New APMT facility is more than a transhipment hub

Morocco is rapidly establishing itself as one of the most important transhipment terminals in the world, according to APM Terminals (APMT), which opened its MedPort Tangier terminal in June 2019.

The US$800m development, APMT’s second terminal at Tanger Med, has opened with annual capacity of 3.3 million TEU per annum – a figure that is planned to reach 5 million TEU per annum when all phases are complete.

MedPort Tangier will use both conventional and advanced technology operations, according to operator, APMT. The terminal provides 1,200 metres of quay, with potential to increase this to 2,000 metres.

The present three berths have depth alongside of 16 to 18 metres and are served by 12 remote-controlled super-post-panamax ship-to-shore cranes – the world’s largest double trolley STS cranes, they each weigh 2,500 tonnes, have a height of 144 metres when boomed up, and have an outreach of 72 metres, with twin-lift capability.

“The remote-controlled cranes will provide the fastest, safest and most efficient loading and unloading services to the newest ULCS with capacities of more than 22,000 TEU,” says APMT, which means that Maersk Line ships of this size will become regular callers at the APMT terminal.

The terminal is accessed by automated gate lanes – three in, two out – and has a 60-hectare container yard. A total of 42 automated RMGs are deployed across 21 container yard blocks and there are 30 shuttle carriers.

APMT says MedPort Tangier will operate as a transhipment hub dedicated to Maersk Line and its partners. “The new facility will support Tanger Med Port to increase its annual throughput capacity to 9 million TEU per annum, helping to improve Moroccan connectivity and further support global trade,” says a spokesman for APMT/Maersk.

Currently, APM Terminals Tangier, MedPort Tangier and Algeciras operations form APMT’s ‘WestMed Hub Terminals’. Eurogate is the other major operator at Tanger Med and it is also poised for expansion.

The present Eurogate Tanger Container Terminal, the most southern facility in its network, provides 812 metres of quay with depth alongside of up to 18 metres and a terminal area of 400,000m2. In 2018, the terminal handled 1.38 million TEU, which was just 0.5% lower than in 2017.

“The excellent geographical location of the port directly on the Strait of Gibraltar, and thus serving the major east-west container shipping trade lanes, has prompted Eurogate to continue investing in the location by participating in a joint venture for the construction and operation of Container Terminal 3 (TC3),” says Eurogate.

TC3 is located to the west of Eurogate Tanger’s present location. Eurogate is partnering with Moroccan port operator Marsa Maroc and Contship Italia to deliver this terminal, which is due to start operations in the middle of next year.

Tanger Med Port Authority is responsible for the management and infrastructure development of the Tanger Med port complex, including the construction and maintenance of breakwaters, dredging and berthing facilities. It is also in charge of coordination of the port community and ensuring the reliability and performance of services provided.

“Tanger Med is a world-class port with excellence in connectivity – we provide a highly efficient gateway to and from Morocco, with our unique and strategic location on the Mediterranean providing easy access to markets. We also manage some Free Zones in Morocco and are developing ‘logistics corridors’ between these and the port,” says Ridouan Boulaich, Digital and IT Director at TMPA.

Tanger Med is Africa’s number one port and one of the region’s major container transhipment hubs, says Mr Boulaich – but it is not only about containers. The port handles vehicles, ro-ro cargo, hydrocarbons and general cargo, as well as being a major ferry passenger facility.

Offering the first Free Zone in Africa, Tanger Med also constitutes an industrial hub for more than 900 companies with a total annual export turnover in excess of €7,300 million in various sectors, including automotive, aeronautics, logistics, textile and trade. It is perhaps no surprise that international manufacturers are starting to utilise the facility, with Renault, Siemens, Lear, Valeo, Furukawa and Hands Corporation now undertaking operations at the Tanger Med industrial hub.

TMPA operates its own Port Community System (PCS), which provides paperless, centralised transactions, integrated with Customs, for imports, exports and freight management, with modules covering e-payments, track-and-trace, reservation of transport and other functions.

Earlier this year, TMPA joined the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA). TMPA’s Port Community System has been designed to improve the administrative and operational efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of the whole Tanger Med port complex, says Ridouan Boulaich.

“We have set ourselves the challenge of expanding our PCS to provide services across the port logistics sector and beyond. This includes expanding the reach of our platform beyond the geographical scope of the port – into areas such as the automotive and agricultural industries, and to provide links between the port and the Free Zones.”

The expansion beyond core container transhipment activities looks set to increase at Tanger Med.