Hapag-Lloyd’s 13,117-TEU vessel Essen Express will inaugurate operations at Damietta Alliance Container Terminals (DACT) in Egypt.
DACT has been designed primarily for transhipment, with a planned capacity of 3.3 million TEUs after full construction.
The terminal expects a cargo mix of roughly 80 per cent transhipment and 20 per cent import/export, serving Egypt, including Damietta and Greater Cairo, and regional markets such as the Levant and Black Sea.
The facility spans 93 hectares with a quay length of 1,670 metres and a water depth of 18 metres.
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Equipment includes 12 fully electric ship-to-shore cranes, 40 hybrid rubber-tyred gantry cranes, spreaders, lashing cages, out-of-gauge frames, and a rail network with six train lanes, two of which are operational at launch.
DACT is operated by a joint venture including Hapag-Lloyd Damietta GmbH (39 per cent), EUROGATE GmbH (29.956 per cent), Contship Italia S.p.A. (29.956 per cent), Ship & C.R.E.W. Egypt S.A.E. (0.07 per cent), and Middle East Logistics & Consultants Group (1.00 per cent).
The terminal emphasises safety, environmental performance, and energy efficiency, using electric and hybrid equipment to reduce emissions, while actively engaging with local communities in Damietta.
Juan Pablo Richards, Senior Managing Director for South Europe at Hapag-Lloyd, said: “We are pleased to see the Damietta terminal enter commercial operations. It represents an important addition to our global network.
“The new hub strengthens our position in the East Mediterranean and enhances our ability to provide customers with reliable, efficient and competitive services across key east-west and regional trade lanes.”
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Dheeraj Bhatia, CEO of Hanseatic Global Terminals and Executive Board Member of Hapag-Lloyd, added: “The successful start of operations at our new terminal in the Port of Damietta marks a significant milestone for our terminal portfolio.
“As we move toward full operations in 2026, this facility will play a key role in strengthening global supply chains, further enhancing the Gemini Cooperation’s industry-leading schedule reliability, and delivering high-quality, efficient services to our customers.”
For more information:
Hapag-Lloyd – https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/home.html
