On Saturday 14 February 2026, the Hapag-Lloyd container vessel Essen Express, with a capacity of 13,117 TEU, will call at the Damietta Alliance Container Terminal, marking the official start of commercial operations at the new hub in the Egyptian port. Developed by the joint venture Damietta Alliance Container Terminals, the facility is intended to strengthen the port’s role as a strategic platform for traffic flows across the Mediterranean and North Africa.
The project provides for annual handling capacity of up to 3.3 million TEU, with an estimated traffic mix of around 80% transhipment and 20% import/export. The terminal will serve the Egyptian market, including Damietta and the Greater Cairo area, as well as regional markets such as the Levant and the Black Sea, positioning itself as a connecting node between intercontinental routes and regional basins.
Matthieu Gasselin, chief executive of Contship, said that the launch of operations in Damietta represents a key step in the Group’s growth strategy in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The new facility completes its presence in a quadrant regarded as strategic for international trade and opens the way to further developments in the area. The second phase of the project is focused on strengthening intermodal links between Damietta and Greater Cairo, including the development of infrastructure designed to support an integrated logistics system, extending the scope beyond terminal operations.
The terminal covers 93 hectares within the “Tahya Misr 1” zone. It features 1,670 metres of quay with a depth of 18 metres, allowing access for large-capacity vessels. Equipment includes twelve ship-to-shore cranes with outreach of up to 25 container rows and 40 hybrid-powered rubber-tyred gantry cranes. Spreader units, lashing cages, frames for out-of-gauge cargo and six rail tracks are also available, two of which are already operational in this first phase.
The first phase of the project required investment of more than $600 million, equivalent to around €555 million. The joint venture’s shareholding structure comprises Hapag-Lloyd Damietta, represented by Hanseatic Global Terminals, with 39%, Eurogate Damietta with 29.5%, Contship Damietta with 29.5%, and Ship & C.R.E.W. Egypt S.A.E. and Middle East Logistics & Consultants Group, each with 1%.
Particular attention has been paid to occupational safety and environmental sustainability. The use of electric and hybrid equipment is aimed at reducing emissions and improving the energy efficiency of operations. The terminal has also launched dialogue with local communities and economic operators in Damietta, in line with an integrated approach to the area’s logistics development.
