AD Ports Group is set to receive three Panamax cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC) for its upcoming multipurpose cargo terminal in Safaga, Egypt.
The latest development is part of a 30-year concession agreement with the Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA), established in 2023, to develop and manage a multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Port. The terminal is slated to commence operations in the latter half of 2026.
The group is allocating AED193m ($52.5m) towards acquiring three ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and six hybrid rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes for the Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal.
The investment complements a previous contract with ZPMC, valued at over AED420m, for six STS cranes and 17 RTG cranes. These cranes are designated for terminal projects at the New East Mole Terminal in Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo, and Noatum Ports, Luanda Terminal in Angola, as announced by AD Ports Group in September last year.
The arrival of these cranes marks the beginning of the final stages of preparation for the Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal.
In December last year, Hassan Allam Construction, an Egyptian engineering and construction firm, was appointed to construct the terminal’s infrastructure. This terminal will be the first internationally managed port facility in Upper Egypt.
The terminal’s infrastructure will include superstructures, equipment, buildings, and utilities to support a wide range of cargo types, including dry bulk, liquid bulk, containerised cargo, and Ro-Ro vehicles.
Covering approximately 810,000m2, the terminal will feature a 1,000m quay wall, with the capacity to handle 450,000 TEUs of containerised cargo, five million tonnes of dry bulk and general cargo, one million tonnes of liquid bulk, and Ro-Ro facilities with a capacity of 50,000 CEUs.
The project will also incorporate a 48,000 m2 concrete apron, an 80,354m2 container terminal with supporting infrastructure, and approximately 66,360m2 dedicated to general cargo and break-bulk operations.
AD Ports Group regional CEO Ahmed Al Mutawa said: “Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal is an important milestone in the development of our Group’s growing ports and maritime strategy in Egypt, where we are taking a lead role through cruise, multipurpose and Ro-Ro concessions to lay a foundation for rapid growth.”
