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Boskalis Prepares Black Rhino Container Transfer in Douala

Boskalis has deployed SMIT Salvage in Douala to prepare the transfer of more than 200 containers from the grounded Black Rhino to a chartered vessel.
Photo source: Boskalis

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Boskalis has deployed a salvage team from its subsidiary SMIT Salvage to Douala, Cameroon, where the 105 m Black Rhino remains grounded following a collision in the access channel to the Port of Douala-Bonabéri.

According to Cameroon’s Ministry of Transport, Black Rhino was entering the port when it collided with the outbound Sea Honor during the night of 11–12 July 2026. The ministry said an investigation was opened by the relevant maritime authorities in cooperation with the Port Authority of Douala to establish the circumstances and causes of the accident.

The collision damaged Black Rhino and left the vessel listing and grounded. The Ministry of Transport said the navigation channel was subsequently cleared, allowing maritime traffic to resume. Crew members were also evacuated following the incident.

Boskalis said Black Rhino was carrying more than 200 containers at the time of the collision. The current salvage operation is focused on preventing the cargo from entering the water and limiting the risk of environmental damage.

To support the operation, the SMIT Salvage team has chartered another container vessel that will be brought alongside Black Rhino. The containers are planned to be transferred from the casualty to the chartered vessel.

Personnel from Smit Lamnalco in Cameroon will support the container transfer operation, according to Boskalis.

The response follows measures taken by Cameroonian authorities after the casualty. The Ministry of Transport said on 21 July 2026 that the navigation channel had been cleared and traffic had returned to normal while the investigation into the collision continued.

Editorial Note:
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools to enhance clarity and efficiency.
All information has been reviewed and verified by the HMT News editor.
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