In brief
- On 17 March 2021, Somaliland Standard reported that Berbera Port received three new ship-to-shore container cranes.
- The cranes were described as the first of their kind in the region, with the port's quay extension and yard filling claimed 95% complete.
- The report does not establish whether the cranes are operational or what has happened since that date.
On 17 March 2021, Somaliland Standard reported that Berbera Port had received three new ship-to-shore container cranes. The report said the cranes arrived on a Monday, and described them as the first of their kind in the region.
The cranes form part of a wider port development financed by DP World, the Dubai-based ports manager, according to the report. DP World and the Republic of Somaliland signed a 30-year contract in 2017 to develop and manage Berbera Port.
Port Authority CEO Saeed Hassan Abdullahi told the publication that the cranes “make the scheduled opening of the new face-lifted port a reality.” He also said the port’s quay extension and yard filling works were about 95% complete.
The same report noted that Berbera Port had already received a full battery of eight rubber-tired gantry cranes from Liebherr. Liebherr signed a deal with DP World in March 2020 to supply those eight RTG cranes. Previously, Berbera Port had three Liebherr LHM 420 mobile harbor cranes.
Somaliland Standard reported that the arrival of the cranes would triple the port’s container handling capacity from 170,000 to 450,000 containers per year. The publication said this would put Berbera in direct competition with other ports in the region and was anticipated to have a major impact on Somaliland’s economy.
The report, sourced from Busiweek, does not state the manufacturer or supplier of the three ship-to-shore cranes. It does not say when the cranes are expected to be installed or operational, nor does it give a scheduled opening date for the “new face-lifted port.” The report does not provide independent verification of the cranes’ arrival beyond the information it attributes to the CEO and the unnamed source.
Frequently asked questions
How many container cranes arrived at Berbera Port?
Three new ship-to-shore container cranes arrived, according to the Somaliland Standard report dated 17 March 2021.
Who supplied the cranes and what was the cost?
The report does not identify the supplier or the cost of the three ship-to-shore cranes. It separately notes that eight rubber-tired gantry cranes were supplied by Liebherr under a deal with DP World signed in March 2020.
When will the cranes be installed and operational?
The report does not state a date for installation or commencement of operations. The CEO said the cranes make the scheduled opening a reality, but no opening date was given.