Cognizant of the dire need of fertilizer in the current rainy season, the biggest port facility in Djibouti, Doraleh Multipurpose Port (DMP), comes in clutch to achieve two consecutive unloading records.
As the modern facility disclosed, on July 21 and 23, courtesy of the 24 hours relentless efforts of the parties involved, dispatch from PSDA/DMP was able to record an untouchable and record performance in the history of bulk cargo.
According to the statement that DMP sent to Capital, the new standards that were set for the unloading and delivery of bulk goods were an unprecedented feat, given the temperature highs of 46Degree Celsius and severe heat wave conditions.
“The port’s operations achieved two records back to back: on Friday July 21, 2023, a record unloading record of 20,284 metric tons (MT) of fertilizer cargo; while on Sunday July 23 a record tonnage of 20,411 MT was unloaded and delivered, making it a first for our facility,” the statement read in-part.
“This feat testifies to the perseverance, competence, competitiveness and exceptional professionalism of DMP’s employees,” it added.
Over the years, the port of DMP has established itself as a flagship of the Djiboutian economy. Its state-of-the-art unloading infrastructure, which enables it to unload ships at a breathtaking speed of 3,000 tons per hour, has placed it as the best performing facility in the region.
The port also boasts bagging lines which are specially designed for grains and fertilizers, facilitating the cargo loading process.
The logistics facility stated that the coordination of operations between DMP and Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (ESL) has played an instrumental role in increasing port productivity.
Currently, about 454 truckloads of fertilizer are delivered to Ethiopia every day. To optimize transport, 2 trains carry a load equivalent to 74 trucks each, per individual trip, enabling a continuous and rapid flow of goods to Ethiopia by rail.
Following the record breaking performance, the Ethiopian delegation expressed its admiration for the exemplary professionalism of the port’s employees. To this send, the DMP’s leadership disclosed that, “It was delighted with the outstanding results achieved, and expressed its gratitude to the port’s management and employees.”
“This remarkable result would not have been possible without the combined efforts of the port’s labour service on operations and maintenance, SDTV, which is handling the packaging at the port facility, ESL and the contribution of Djibouti Customs,” the DMP management further applauded whilst underlying that, “The success of the Doraleh Multipurpose Port has greatly contributed to Djibouti’s reputation at regional and even international level.”
“The port’s impressive achievements in terms of productivity and unloading performance have attracted the attention of economic players in the region, consolidating Djibouti’s position as an essential hub for maritime trade in Africa,” the statement concluded.
The Port which was inaugurated in May 2017 has the capacity to accommodate vessels with up to 100,000 DWT and boasts state-of-the-art facilities, making it one of the most advanced ports in Africa.
The port features various terminals, including bulk, break, container, and RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off), and its impressive quay line stretches 1,200 meters, accommodating six berths with a depth of 15.3 meters.
The port also has direct connection to the Djibouti-Addis Ababa railway and is similarly undertaking massive changes and upgrades frequently. For instance, it expanded the port activity with additional equipment worth USD 7 million which allows the port to hand vessels with huge cargo.