AD Ports kicks off construction on Angolan port: AD Ports, Unicargas, and Multiparques have laid the foundation stone for the Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal at Luanda port, according to a press release published last week. The revamp — for which the company earmarked USD 250 over the first three years — is scheduled to be completed in 1Q 2027.

REFRESHER- AD Ports clinched a 20-year concession with Angola’s Luanda Port Authority to operate and upgrade the Luanda multipurpose port terminal last year. The port operator tapped US firm Mar Construction and Sidara’s engineering consultancy subsidiary Dar Al Handasah earlier this year.

On the terminal: The revamped terminal — spanning 192k sqm — will handle general cargo, containers, and RoRo operations, the press release said. Upon completion, the terminal’s container capacity will increase to 350k TEUs from 25k, with RoRo volumes surpassing 40k vehicles. It is expected to be the only terminal in the port able to handle Super Post-Panamax vessels of up to 14k TEUs.

The Luanda port currently handles over 76% of Angola’s container and general cargo volumes, and serves as one of Central-West Africa’s key transhipment hubs, enabling landlocked countries — including the DRC and Zambia — to access maritime trade.

AD Ports has been ramping up its Angola operations: The Abu Dhabi-based port operator inked a slew of MoUs with Angolan private and public sector players earlier this year, covering digitalization and streamlining of customs, boosting its trucking fleet, and ramping up ground handling capacity, among other agreements.

MORE FROM AD PORTS-

#1- AD Ports has awarded a contract to Azerbaijan’s Baku Shipyards for the construction of two shallow-draft container ships, according to a press release. The vessels — whose capacities stand at 780 TEU — are slated for delivery by 4Q 2027 and will be deployed in the Caspian Sea.

UAE + Azerbaijan updates: The UAE and Azerbaijan signed an economic partnership agreement earlier this year aimed at boosting investment flows and cooperation across renewables, tourism, logistics, and construction services. The two countries’ non-oil trade hit USD 2.4 bn in 2024, up 43% y-o-y, while the UAE’s investments in the country exceed USD 1 bn.

#2- AD Ports boosts operational connectivity with new satellite tech: AD Ports Group has rolled out its new fleet- and terminal-wide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services, according to a statement released on Thursday. The program will deliver real-time data to vessels and offer reliable connectivity for its ports and terminals. The firm has started a phased deployment scheme on several of its 270-ship fleet and plans to extend it across the group's global network of 34 terminals.

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