Marsa Maroc has inked an agreement with MSC subsidiary Terminal Investment Limited(TIL) to split ownership of Nador West Med (NWM) Eastern Container Terminal, according to a press release. The agreement — which is pending regulatory approval — will grant TIL 49% ownership of the subsidiary owning the terminal, while Marsa Maroc will retain the remaining 51% as well as voting rights. The value of the contract has not been disclosed.

Background: Marsa Maroc’s 25-year concession of the Eastern Container Terminal was announced in June last year, with the port operator slated to invest EUR 200 mn in the terminal’s first phase. It is planned to encompass 70 hectares with a depth of 18 meters and a 1.5k-meter-long quay, with a full capacity of 3.4 mn TEUs. The first phase of the terminal is expected to be commissioned by early 2027.

The port will also feature an integrated industrial and logistics complex, which will be housed in a free zone developed by the port, according to the Nador West Met website.

TIL in the region: KSA’s King Abdullah Port is TIL’s most prominent MENA project, becoming the Kingdom’s largest transshipment port and second-largest handling facility, according to TIL’s website. It comprises a 2 km quay and 155 hectares in terminal area and a depth of 17 meters.

CMA CGM is also in the picture: French logistics provider CMA CGM and Marsa Maroc formed a JV last October to jointly equip and operate one-half of NWM, with CMA CGM owning 49% of the JV and Marsa Maroc owning the rest. This JV planned to invest EUR 280 mn in the port’s infrastructure to achieve an annual terminal output of 1.2 mn TEUs. The 35-hectare portion under the JV’s remit is distinct from the eastern container terminal now jointly owned by Marsa Maroc and TIL.

IN OTHER PORT NEWS FROM BAHRAIN

Bahrain’s Transport Ministry has inked a letter of intent with Khalifa Bin Salman Port Operator APM Terminals to upgrade the port’s infrastructure, according to a statement. The agreement aims to expand the port’s capacity, integrate advanced logistics services, and foster sustainability.

APM💙Bahrain: APM Terminals Bahrain approved the integration of land freight transport into its activities in August 2024. The operator is also working with Bahrain-Maersk to expand the ship recycling sector in the country. It

The port’s latest in numbers: Bahrain’s Khalifa bin Salman Port handled 39k TEU in August2024, a 7.5% y-o-y increase, according to a report (pdf). This is a 7.5% increase compared to 2023 (pdf). General cargo at the port dipped 38.9% y-o-y to 47.2k tons. The port’s performance on the World Bank and S&P Global’s Container Port Performance Index jumped up by 30 places, taking 43th place in September 2024.

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