In brief
- DP World announced on 24 June 2021 that the first phase of Berbera port's expansion was complete and the new container terminal inaugurated.
- The source gives the terminal a 17m draft, a 400m quay, three ship to shore gantry cranes and eight rubber tyred gantry cranes.
- The second phase, extending the quay to 1,000m and reaching two million TEUs a year, was announced as underway, not finished.
Contents
DP World announced on 24 June 2021 that the first phase of the Berbera port expansion was complete and that the new container terminal had been inaugurated, at an event attended by Somaliland's president and over 200 guests in Berbera, Somaliland.
What the source records
DP World describes a terminal with 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 operator states the port's container capacity rose from 150,000 TEUs a year to 500,000, that a One Stop Service Centre was under construction and due in quarter three of that year, and that committed investment reached up to US$442 million. A second phase was announced as underway, extending the quay to 1,000m and adding seven more gantry cranes for a stated two million TEUs a year.
What it means on site
Deep draft and longer quay change what berths: larger container vessels and deeper-loaded calls. For a contractor or supplier this shifts work toward quay-edge handling, yard paving, drainage and services that survive salt air and wind, and toward clear lifting plans and exclusion zones under gantry cranes. Whether your project's scope touches the terminal, the economic zone or the corridor, confirm in writing which specification and which terminal operator rules govern access, deliveries and lifting before mobilising.
What the source does not establish
The announcement is the operator's own account, dated 2021. It does not show terminal condition today, throughput actually achieved, or construction quality. The two million TEU figure, the 1,000m quay and further cranes are announced second-phase scope, not completed work. The economic zone ground-breaking was symbolic, with its first phase described as under construction, and the One Stop Service Centre was given as a future date, not a handover.
What to do next
Ask the port authority office in Berbera for the current berth and yard drawings, and ask the terminal operator what gate and lifting rules apply to your deliveries. If your contract depends on corridor or zone works, ask the contracting authority for the latest progress record in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What did DP World report completing at Berbera in June 2021?
The first phase of the port expansion, with the new container terminal inaugurated. The source gives it a 17m draft, a 400m quay, three ship to shore gantry cranes and eight rubber tyred gantry cranes.
Is the second phase of the Berbera terminal finished?
The source does not say so. It states the second phase was underway, with the quay to be extended to 1,000m and capacity to reach a stated two million TEUs a year. Ask the terminal operator for the current state.
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.