In brief
- DP World reported on 13 January 2021 that eight rubber-tyred gantry cranes had arrived at Berbera, after a 400-metre quay and 25-hectare yard extension it said were completed in August 2020.
- The same report scheduled three Super Post Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes for delivery in March and put terminal commissioning by the end of March, both as forecasts rather than completed work.
- Civil completion of quay and yard is a different gate from operational readiness, which needs crane installation, commissioning, power and trained operators before it can be confirmed.
Contents
DP World reported on 13 January 2021 that eight rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes had arrived at the Port of Berbera as part of its expansion project, following what it described as the completion of a 400-metre quay and a 25-hectare yard extension of the new container terminal in August 2020.
What the source records
DP World states that the next milestone in the expansion would be the installation of three Super Post Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes, scheduled for delivery in March. The same report says the terminal is on schedule for commissioning by the end of March, that DP World has committed to investing up to US$442 million to expand the port, and that on completion capacity would rise by 500,000 TEUs per year.
What it means on site
The sequence in the report is the point: quay and yard completion was reported first, with crane arrival, installation and commissioning placed after it. Civil completion is concrete and pavement finished to level and bearing; operational readiness is different. It needs the cranes installed and tested, the power supply and crane rails as built, the yard markings and stacking plan agreed, and operators trained to run the equipment. A builder or client should track these as separate gates with separate dates, and read the March crane and commissioning entries as forecasts, not results.
What the source does not establish
The report is an operator progress note dated 13 January 2021. It does not show whether the three ship-to-shore cranes were delivered, installed or commissioned, whether the March commissioning happened, whether the US$442 million was drawn down, or whether the 500,000 TEU capacity was reached. It gives no as-built survey, no commissioning test certificate and no statement of the terminal's present condition. Documents that would confirm the state of the works include the as-built drawings, the crane commissioning certificates and the current terminal operating plan.
What to do next
If you need the present state of the terminal, ask DP World Berbera for the crane commissioning certificates and the as-built quay and yard drawings, including the design loadings. Before quoting work on the quay or yard, request the current terminal layout and the operating restrictions in force.
Frequently asked questions
Does the January 2021 report mean the terminal was operating?
No. It reports crane arrivals and a scheduled commissioning date, not a completed commissioning or an operating terminal.
What does the 400-metre quay figure refer to?
DP World's 13 January 2021 report describes a completed 400-metre quay as part of the new container terminal, alongside a 25-hectare yard extension.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Berbera and Somaliland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.