In brief
- DP World reported on 13 January 2021 that the new container terminal's 25-hectare yard extension completed in August 2020, alongside a 400-metre quay.
- The same report said eight rubber-tyred gantry cranes had arrived and three ship-to-shore cranes were scheduled for March 2021, with commissioning forecast for end of March.
- DP World stated it had committed up to US$442 million to the expansion and a capacity increase of 500,000 TEUs per year once completed.
Contents
DP World reported on 13 January 2021 that the 25-hectare yard extension at the Port of Berbera's new container terminal had been completed in August 2020. The operator's milestone announcement also recorded the arrival of eight rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes at the port.
What the source records
DP World states that the yard extension and a 400-metre quay were completed in August 2020. It records eight RTG cranes arriving in January 2021, with three Super Post Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes scheduled for delivery in March. DP World says it committed up to US$442 million to the expansion, that capacity will rise by 500,000 TEUs per year once completed, and that the terminal was on schedule for commissioning by the end of March 2021.
What it means on site
For anyone planning pavement, drainage, lighting, reefer points or crane rail interfaces, the useful detail is sequence. DP World reports the yard paved before the RTG fleet arrived, which means the surfacing and the crane load paths had to be settled ahead of commissioning. On a hardstand of this size in coastal conditions, the questions to raise with the project engineer or terminal operator are jointing layout, sub-base compaction records and the salt-laden air's effect on coatings and reinforcement cover. Those limits should be confirmed against the project specification.
What the source does not establish
The report is an operator milestone announcement, so it records a completed yard extension and the arrival of equipment, not the present condition of the terminal. The end-of-March commissioning date and the March crane delivery are forecasts as of January 2021, not confirmed events. The US$442 million figure is a commitment, and the 500,000 TEU increase is stated as a result once completed. Nothing here describes the pavement design, drainage, materials or contractor, and no later progress is reported. The documents that would confirm the present state are the terminal's as-built drawings and handover records held by DP World Berbera or the port authority.
What to do next
Ask DP World Berbera or the port authority for the as-built drawings and handover certificate covering the 25-hectare yard, and confirm which pavement and drainage details were issued against them.
Frequently asked questions
When did the 25-hectare yard extension at Berbera port finish?
DP World's 13 January 2021 milestone announcement states the yard extension and a 400-metre quay were completed in August 2020.
Is the terminal at Berbera commissioned?
The source only gives a forecast. DP World said the terminal was on schedule for commissioning by the end of March 2021, which is a target as of January 2021, not a confirmed event.
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.