In brief
- DP World's 24 June 2021 release gives the inaugurated Berbera container terminal a capacity of 500,000 TEUs a year, up from 150,000.
- The same release announces a second phase, extending the quay from 400 to 1,000 metres and raising capacity to up to two million TEUs a year.
- Announced phase-two capacity is a target, not an achieved result; only the opened phase is documented as complete.
Contents
DP World reported on 24 June 2021 that the new container terminal at Berbera Port had been inaugurated, giving the completed first phase a capacity of 500,000 TEUs a year. The operator said the terminal was opened by Somaliland's President, Muse Bihi Abdi, and DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
What the source records
According to DP World, the inaugurated terminal has a deep draft of 17m, a quay of 400m and three ship-to-shore gantry cranes, plus a container yard with eight rubber-tyred gantry cranes. The release states the terminal raises the port's container capacity from 150,000 TEUs to 500,000 TEUs annually. The same release announces a second phase: extend the quay to 1,000 metres, add seven ship-to-shore cranes for a total of 10, and raise capacity to up to two million TEUs a year.
What it means on site
For anyone planning works or cargo at Berbera, the useful distinction is between what the release presents as opened and what it presents as announced. The first phase is reported as complete, with named quay length, draft and crane numbers; the figures describe the terminal as of the release, not the present berth layout. Engineers and clients preparing a delivery or a marine works package can use these as a starting reference, then confirm the current arrangement with the port operator. Phase-two quay length and crane count can be treated as a stated intention, not a fixed construction sequence.
What the source does not establish
This is an operator announcement, so it gives the operator's account of its own project. It does not give a completion date for the second phase, a construction contract, a contractor, or a commissioning record. The two-million-TEU figure is an announced capacity target, not an achieved throughput or a completed quay. The release also says the One Stop Service Centre was still being built, with a stated readiness of quarter three of that year. Nothing here describes what has happened at the terminal since 24 June 2021.
What to do next
Ask the Berbera port operator's commercial or engineering office for the current berth and yard drawings, crane list and any phase-two construction programme, and confirm those details in writing before relying on them in a design or shipping plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Berbera container terminal capacity 500,000 TEUs or two million TEUs a year?
DP World's 24 June 2021 release gives 500,000 TEUs a year for the inaugurated terminal. Two million TEUs a year is the capacity target stated for an announced second phase, not a completed result.
Was the second phase of the Berbera terminal expansion complete in 2021?
No. The release announces work underway on the second phase, including extending the quay from 400 to 1,000 metres and adding seven ship-to-shore cranes, without a completion date.
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.