DP World develops new Senegal port

Located 50km south of the capital, the new facility will relieve pressure on the Port of Dakar which is nearing maximum capacity.

The project is expected to take two and a half years, and once complete, the port of Ndayane will be able to simultaneously accommodate two of the world’s largest container ships, making it one of the largest ports in west Africa and bolstering Senegal’s economy and job prospects.

Construction firm, Jan De Nul, will be responsible for creating a five-kilometre access channel, and has already begun dredging the ten million cubic metres of soil.

“This is not an easy task, as the seabed in the channel consists mainly of hard rock and the conditions in the Atlantic Ocean can be rough,” said Dominique Bombaert, area manager for Senegal at Jan De Nul.

“You need a powerful dredger that is also large enough to continue working in challenging wave conditions. That is why we deploy our largest and most powerful cutter suction dredger, the Willem Van Rubroeck, to get the job done.”

The dredged material will be used to reclaim 89 hectares from the sea, creating a terminal for container storage and maritime services.

Careful planning and execution are in place to minimise environmental impact. An extensive environmental impact study has been conducted, addressing sensitive areas like seagrass fields.

Additionally, the maritime contractor is actively monitoring water quality and the location of marine mammals and turtles, ensuring the project’s progress aligns with environmental protection standards.

Jan De Nul is also working on a new container quay for the port of Valencia and a new deep-water port in Georgia is in the pipeline.