The Douala Port Container Terminal (RTC S.A.), a key subsidiary of State-run maritime firm Port Authority of Douala (PAD), has officially launched the construction of its new, state-of-the-art headquarters, a project set to redefine the skyline and operational standards of Cameroon’s busiest port.
The General Manager of PAD Cyrus Ngo’o, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of RTC laid the foundation stone on April 23, 2025, setting the pace for commencement of construction. This was during a ceremony attended by the Turkish Ambassador to Cameroon, Volkan Oskiper, PAD officials, board members, and project partners including Erdem Group and Creaconsult Sarl.
The new headquarters, designed as an ERP (Establishment Receiving the Public) building, will rise six stories high, with a distinctive silhouette inspired by two superimposed shipping containers, a nod to the terminal’s core business. Spanning a footprint of 1,440 square meters, the building will accommodate between 300 and 700 people and offer modular administrative offices, advanced meeting rooms, a 140-seat auditorium, a secure archiving room, a 115m² gym, a canteen for 100, a training room, and enhanced facilities for accessibility and digital security.
Awarded to Turkish construction firm Erdem Group after an international tender, the project is financed entirely by PAD at a cost of FCFA 8 billion. Creaconsult Sarl will oversee project management, ensuring delivery within 20 months. This investment is part of PAD’s broader strategy to modernize the Douala Container Terminal, following significant upgrades such as new cranes, expanded quay infrastructure, and digitalization efforts.
The new RTC S.A. headquarters stands as a symbol of the port’s successful transition to Cameroonian management, following years of foreign concession. Since 2020, RTC has outpaced its predecessor in both investment and operational efficiency, contributing to rising revenues and positioning the Douala Port as a leading logistics hub in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of the Container Terminal, Lin Dieudonné Onana Ndoh, stated that the realization of the project is in line with President Paul Biya’s vision of making the Douala-Bonaberi Port a reference in the Gulf of Guinea.
“It is the desire of the Head of State, President Paul Biya to position the Port of Douala-Bonaberi as a reference port in the Gulf of Guinea,” Onana Ndoh said, justifying that the construction of the RTC S.A. headquarters is in line with the Head of State’s vision.
Upon completion, the building will not only provide modern, comfortable workspaces but will also reinforce RTC S.A.’s role in supporting Cameroon’s economic ambitions and the PAD’s vision of becoming a reference port in the region.