Djibouti port attracts major shipping lines

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

27 Feb 2009

The Doraleh container terminal (TCD) attained a record rate by loading and unloading 54 containers per hour and per gantry crane, APA learns from sources in Djibouti. A week after its official inauguration, the new jewel port confirms the hopes placed on it as major shipping lines are knocking at the door, including one of the biggest container carriers in the world expected at Doraleh in the next few days. The Doraleh port container terminal did better because of its unloading volume, the Director of Operations Nouridin Yusuf Elmi told APA on Thursday.
According to Yusuf, formerly of the Port of Dakar in Senegal, loading and unloading have reached an unprecedented rate of 54 containers per hour and per gantry crane, and 92 containers per hour and per wharf.
He believes that this is a technical feat to value in light of the performance at the international standard level i.e. 25 containers per hour.
"These new performances were achieved on 14 February without accident or incident," while complying with security procedures established by the Dubai Port World operator, and dictated by the highest authorities of the Djibouti port.
According to Yusuf Elmi, this feat is the first of its kind in Africa and was achieved thanks to a staff comprising only Djiboutians.
The achievements encourage shipping companies to put bigger vessels in the circuit, he added, announcing the coming to Djibouti on 2 March of the biggest container ship with a capacity of 9,661 TEUs, and a 350m length, belonging to a French ship-owner.
Time-saving and modern equipment are comparative advantages to earn customer trust, mainly shipping lines engaged in fierce competition at all wharfs of the world.

Source: APA