CAIRO – 12 August 2024: The Egyptian Ministry of Transport is advancing its strategic goals across several key areas, with the primary focus on creating integrated international logistical corridors.
These corridors will connect production areas (industrial, agricultural, mining, and service sectors) to seaports through fast and secure transportation, passing through dry ports and comprehensive logistics areas. Key corridors include the Sokhna–Alexandria, Arish–Taba, Cairo–Alexandria, Tanta–Mansoura–Damietta, Gargoub–Salloum, Cairo–Aswan–Abu Simbel, and Safaga–Qena–Abu Tartur routes.
As part of its ambitious plans, the Ministry of Transport has initiated the construction of new berths at seaports, adding a total of 67 kilometers of berth length with depths ranging from 18 to 22 meters. Key ports undergoing expansion include Bernice, Safaga, Sokhna, Adabiya, and Nuweiba on the Red Sea, as well as Arish, Port Said, Damietta, Abu Qir, Alexandria, and Gargoub on the Mediterranean.
These expansions will increase the total berth length across all seaports to 100 kilometers. Additionally, 15 kilometers of breakwaters are being constructed, and navigation channels are being deepened to increase the ports' annual handling capacity from 185 million tons to 400 million tons and from 12 million TEUs to 40 million TEUs, with an additional 10 million TEUs for transshipment and the capability to accommodate 30,000 mega ships annually.
Major Projects in Mediterranean Ports
One of the significant projects in the Mediterranean region is the development of the Grand Alexandria Port, which includes the ports of Alexandria and Dekheila. The “Tahya Misr” multipurpose station, with a total length of 2.5 kilometers, an area of 560,000 square meters, and a handling capacity of 12-15 million tons, was established at a cost of EGP 7 billion. Additionally, the construction of Berth 85/3 for handling timber and grains, with a length of 433 meters, allows the docking of ships carrying up to 70,000 tons of goods.
Three axes have been developed to connect Alexandria Port with the Abu Zekry Corridor, known as the "Reconstruction Axis" (including Axis 54, Axis 27, and Dekheila Axis).
The dry bulk terminal is also under construction, featuring a berth length of 1,150 meters at a cost of EGP 1.6 billion. Another multipurpose station is being developed at Berth 100 with a berth length of 1,680 meters and a cost of EGP 3.14 billion. In addition, 7,000 meters of breakwaters are being constructed at a cost of EGP 6.7 billion, and a logistics area spanning 273 acres is being developed at a cost of EGP 2 billion.
At Damietta Port, a multipurpose station with a berth length of 681 meters is being constructed at a cost of EGP 1.365 billion. The eastern breakwater of the port has been extended by 1,420 meters, and the construction of the western breakwater, measuring 5,400 meters, is ongoing, with a total cost of EGP 2.5 billion.
Further, the “Tahya Misr” station at Damietta Port is under development with 2 kilometers of berth length and a capacity of 3.5 million TEUs, costing EGP 4.495 billion. A new grain terminal is also being developed with a berth length of 850 meters and an area of 270,000 square meters at a cost of EGP 2 billion.
Development of Gargoub and Arish Ports
The development of Gargoub Port includes the construction of new berths totaling 14 kilometers in length with a depth of 17 meters and 7 square kilometers of handling areas, covering a total area of 10 square kilometers.
The container berth, measuring 970 meters, has been completed, along with general cargo berths of 360 meters and 670 meters in length. The eastern breakwater, measuring 2,770 meters, has been finished, and the main breakwater, measuring 3,050 meters, is under construction.
A significant agreement has been signed between the General Authority of Alexandria Port, the Renewable Energy Development Authority, and the Belgian company DEME for the Green Hydrogen/Ammonia Project at Gargoub Port, valued at €24 billion.
At Abu Qir Port, development plans include the construction of new berths totaling 10.1 kilometers in length with depths ranging from 17 to 22 meters, making it the deepest seaport globally. The project also involves the construction of breakwaters totaling 9,400 meters in length.
The development of Arish Port is progressing rapidly, with plans to add new berths totaling 2.25 kilometers, increasing the total berth length to 3.665 kilometers. The construction of General Cargo Berth No. 1 (250 meters) and Berth No. 2 (1,000 meters) is underway, along with plans for a multipurpose berth of 915 meters. The construction of the main northern breakwater (1,250 meters) and the eastern breakwater (250 meters) has been completed.
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