Doraleh Container Terminal Management Company (SGTD), a leading regional port operator, has made a significant move to enhance operational efficiency with the arrival of 10 new rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes.
These cranes, which will be commissioned soon, are anticipated to greatly improve the terminal’s capacity and service quality.
In a statement released earlier this week, SGTD highlighted that the addition of the new RTG cranes demonstrates its commitment to investing in infrastructure. “This reaffirms our dedication to increasing the terminal’s capacity, efficiency, and service quality.
The new cranes will reduce turnaround times, boost productivity for hinterland customers, enhance vessel performance, and expand container handling capacity,” the company stated.
The 10 RTGs are part of a larger initiative focused on increasing the terminal’s handling capacity.
This project involves the development of additional stacking and delivery yards for imports and exports, spanning over 20 hectares, as well as the integration of ITVs and RS/ECH systems.
With these upgrades, the terminal is now capable of handling 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), solidifying Djibouti’s position as a key regional hub for maritime trade.
This latest investment follows a USD 70 million expansion project completed a year ago, which included the addition of four gantry cranes and the expansion of the terminal’s stake yard.
This earlier upgrade allowed the port to accommodate larger vessels, such as the Triple E (3E) Class and Malaccamax ships, capable of carrying between 15,000 and 23,000 TEUs.
At that time, SGTD CEO Abdillahi Adaweh Sigad emphasized that the expansion was crucial to meet the increasing demand for transshipment services.
In a related development, Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, recently met with a high-level Chinese delegation led by Hu Bin, China’s Ambassador to Djibouti, and Chen Hai, China’s Ambassador to Ethiopia.
The discussions centered on enhancing the commercial efficiency of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway (EDR) and optimizing its operations.
According to a statement from the authority sent to Capital, a key topic of the meeting was connecting the EDR to the Awash Oil Depot and Horizon Djibouti Terminal Limited, which handles 1.4 million tons of oil annually.
This connection is expected to streamline transport links between Djibouti’s logistics hubs and Ethiopia’s major trade routes.
“Additionally, the potential connection of the EDR to Nagad/Damerjog was discussed, which would further integrate the railway network with Djibouti’s industrial and energy sectors,” the statement added.
Chairman Hadi, who also serves on the EDR board, emphasized the importance of commercializing the railway’s operations to attract private sector involvement in logistics and services. This initiative is expected to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the EDR, benefiting both Djibouti and Ethiopia.
