Middle EastPorts and Logistics

Democratic Republic of the Congo gets its first deepsea port

DP World is pressing ahead with the development of a first deepsea port in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Contacts have been signed this week to build the facility at the port at Banana along the country’s 37km coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.

DP World will develop an initial 600 m quay with an 18 m draft, capable of handling the largest vessels in operation.

It will have a container handling capacity of about 450 000 teu per year, and a 30 ha yard to store containers.

“The development of the Banana Port will bring significant cost and time savings for the country’s trade, as it will attract more direct calls from larger vessels from Asia and Europe,” DP World stated in a release.

The Dubai-based terminal operator is expanding its network in Africa a great deal this year with the recent concession win for Luanda in Angola, to the south of Banana, as well as an expansion project that is underway in Berbera in Somaliland.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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