MedPort Tangier expansion boosts capacity

The latest work increases the terminal’s capacity to 5.2 million teu annually, with a two-kilometre berth length, as part of a three-year project successfully delivered on schedule.

The two terminals operated by APM Terminals in Morocco are crucial hubs for the Gemini Cooperation, a collaboration between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd focused on east-west trade routes.

“Almost exactly a year ago, the second phase of our expansion went live and this month we have added an additional 1 million teu to our capacity here in Tangier, which means that we are top-tuned to deliver for Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, when the new network will be phased in from February 2025,” explained Keld Pedersen, managing director at APM Terminals West Med.

With a corresponding expansion in the workforce of an extra 500 jobs over the past two years, this latest stage positions MedPort Tangier as one of the world’s most technologically advanced, efficient and safe container terminals.

Key innovations include an auto mooring system for vessel berthing, digital berth planning, and the Gemini simulation tool. These advancements helped the port earn a ranking as the fourth most efficient container terminal globally in a recent analysis by the World Bank and S&P Global.

“The expansion not only gives us more capacity, it also brings with it advanced technology that helps us reduce port hours, improve the productivity of our cranes and reduce direct emissions from vessels by using shorepower,” said Pedersen.