Damietta Port bolsters Egypt's hub vision with 5 giant cranes for Tahya Misr 1 terminal

Egypt Independent

a day ago

Lieutenant General Kamel El Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, confirmed Damietta Port's reception of the Chinese vessel ZHEN HUA 33.
On board were five colossal Ship-to-Shore (STS) quay cranes, designated for the Tahya Misr 1 container terminal's berths. This delivery is part of the ongoing superstructure work being carried out by Damietta Alliance, the terminal's operator, in preparation for its imminent inauguration and operation.
The arrival of these cranes marks a pivotal moment in equipping the terminal with the world's most advanced operating systems. This delivery augments a prior shipment of seven colossal STS cranes, raising the total count of sophisticated quay cranes now on site to 12.
Manufactured by HHMC, a prominent Chinese leader in contemporary port equipment, these cranes possess formidable operational capabilities, including a lifting capacity of 75 tons and an impressive 57.5-meter outreach from the quay.
This allows them to efficiently handle mega-vessels carrying up to 11 containers high. Furthermore, their impressive 72-meter outreach enables them to manage the widest container ships, significantly enhancing the port's capacity to accommodate the most advanced global container vessels.
The new cranes are also equipped with cutting-edge safety systems, including sensors, cameras, and protection systems, to ensure safe loading and unloading operations. They also support integration with smart port management systems, enabling real-time monitoring of operational activities and achieving the highest levels of efficiency and coordination among various operating departments within the terminal.
In a related development, the terminal has so far received 30 of the 40 planned environmentally friendly Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes. These RTG cranes are designed for high operational efficiency, standing 21 meters tall, and support a dual-power system allowing operation by either electricity or diesel, enhancing operational flexibility and efficiency under various conditions. They were manufactured by the Chinese company Genma-Kalmar, a global leader in advanced handling equipment.
The Tahya Misr 1 container terminal project stands as one of the largest national endeavors currently underway at Damietta Port. Its quays stretch for 1,970 meters with a depth of 18 meters, complemented by a vast 922,000-square-meter back area. This impressive setup provides a handling capacity of up to 3.5 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units).
Damietta Alliance Container Terminals, a consortium comprising Germany's Eurogate, Italy's Contship, and the global shipping line Hapag-Lloyd, is responsible for operating the terminal. Their management will adhere to the latest international standards, significantly bolstering the port's standing as a fully integrated logistics hub in the region.
This vital project aligns with the Ministry of Transport's comprehensive plan to develop all Egyptian ports. The overarching goal is to transform Egypt into a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade, in line with directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Its implementation also falls within the framework of establishing the integrated logistical corridor (Tanta-Mansoura-Damietta). This will collectively contribute to boosting the national economy, enhancing the global competitiveness of Egyptian ports by increasing operational efficiency, reducing waiting times, and improving their capacity to accommodate the new generation of mega-ships.