In brief
- DP World's 11 October 2018 release reported that first-phase work at Berbera would include a 400-metre quay and a 250,000 square metre yard extension.
- The same release named Shafa Al Nahda Contracting as holder of the port expansion construction contract and described a free zone alongside the marine works.
- The figures describe planned scope at launch, not a measured or completed yard.
Contents
DP World reported on 11 October 2018 that construction work on the multi-purpose port at Berbera in Somaliland had started, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Somaliland's President Muse Bihi Abdi and DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. The release described the first phase of the work and named the partners involved.
What the source records
According to DP World, the first phase would consist of building a 400-metre quay and a 250,000 square metre yard extension, plus development of a free zone. The release states that DP World Berbera, the joint venture company, would also serve landlocked countries in the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia, which holds a 19% stake as a shareholder. Long-term DP World partner Shafa Al Nahda Contracting was awarded the construction contract, having worked on expansions at the Port of Dakar in Senegal and the Port of Maputo in Mozambique.
What it means on site
For a yard of this kind, the paving, drainage and service corridors carry the design load, so the questions to settle early are the sub-base specification, joint layout and falls, and where storm water discharges during the Gu and Deyr rains. In coastal Berbera, salt and humidity affect reinforcement cover and curing, and general practice is to confirm the concrete mix, cover and curing regime against the project specification and the engineer's instructions. The release stops at the scope; it does not give pavement build-ups, surfacing or phasing, so any contractor pricing work off this text should obtain the current drawings and bill of quantities.
What the source does not establish
This is a launch announcement dated 11 October 2018. A planned quay length and yard area are stated scope, not completed or measured work, and no progress, handover or as-built figure appears. The text does not say what was built, what the yard is used for, or how the free zone developed after the ceremony. Nothing in it supports a present-day condition for the port or the yard. A completion certificate, as-built drawings, or a current port layout would confirm what exists now.
What to do next
Ask the port authority or the DP World Berbera joint venture office for the as-built yard layout and the current phase plan, then check those against the contract drawings and bill of quantities before pricing or designing against the 2018 figures.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2018 announcement mean the 250,000 square metre yard is complete?
No. DP World's 11 October 2018 release describes first-phase scope at the groundbreaking stage, not completed work. Ask the port office for as-built drawings or a current layout to confirm what has been built and handed over.
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.