In brief
- DP World reported on 11 October 2018 that construction had started at Berbera with a groundbreaking ceremony for the multipurpose port.
- The reported first phase covers a 400-metre quay, a 250,000 square metre yard extension and the development of a free zone.
- Those figures describe planned scope at launch, not completed work, per the same source.
Contents
DP World reported on 11 October 2018 that construction work had started at the multipurpose port of Berbera in Somaliland, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Somaliland's president and the DP World group chairman and CEO. The announcement set out a first phase and linked the port build to a planned free zone.
What the source records
DP World described the first phase as building a 400-metre quay and a 250,000 square metre yard extension, plus the development of a free zone intended to create a regional trading hub. The same account states that the joint venture company, DP World Berbera, would also serve landlocked countries in the Horn of Africa, and that Ethiopia held a 19% stake as a shareholder.
What it means on site
For anyone reading the scope later, the free zone sat inside the same announced programme as the quay and yard, so site services and boundaries for the marine works can be tied to it on paper. In practice that means checking drawings and the contract for where the free zone footprint was set relative to quay edge, yard levels and drainage outfalls before assuming an alignment. The source does not give that layout, so treat it as a question for the project engineer.
What the source does not establish
Everything quoted here was planned or announced at launch on 11 October 2018. A 400-metre quay, a 250,000 square metre yard and a free zone are scope, not finished work, and nothing in the account confirms construction progress, completion, or current condition. The figures are as of the source's date. Records that would confirm the present state include as-built drawings, completion certificates and the terminal's operating records, held by the developer or the port authority.
What to do next
Ask DP World Berbera or the Somaliland port authority for the current as-built drawing set and handover records for the quay and yard, and for the free zone boundary plan, so any design or purchase decision rests on the present layout rather than the 2018 announcement.
Frequently asked questions
Did the 2018 announcement confirm the free zone was built?
No. DP World reported the free zone as part of the first-phase plan at the groundbreaking on 11 October 2018. It is announced scope, not a completed work, and the announcement gives no completion date.
Who was awarded the port expansion construction contract?
The same DP World account states that Shafa Al Nahda Contracting, a long-term DP World partner, was awarded the construction contract for the port expansion. Check the developer's current records for the present contract position.
What does Ethiopia's 19% stake cover?
DP World reported Ethiopia as a shareholder with a 19% stake in the joint venture company DP World Berbera, alongside the stated aim of serving landlocked countries in the Horn of Africa. The announcement does not set out the commercial terms.
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.