On February 14, the 13,117 TEU container ship Essen Express, operated by Hapag-Lloyd, will be the first vessel to call at the new Damietta Alliance Container Terminal (DACT) in Egypt, officially launching its commercial operations. The project is part of Contship Group’s expansion strategy to strengthen its position in the Mediterranean and North Africa, a region considered key for the continued growth of international trade.
The DACT terminal is primarily focused on transit cargo and is designed to handle up to 3.3 million TEUs per year. Approximately 80% of this volume is expected to be transshipment, while 20% will be import/export operations for the Egyptian market, including Damietta and Greater Cairo, as well as for countries in the Levant and the Black Sea region. The first phase of the project required an investment of over $600 million.
The complex covers 93 hectares, with a berthing line length of 1,670 meters and a depth of 18 meters. The terminal is equipped with 12 fully electric quay cranes with a reach of 25 rows and 40 hybrid RTG cranes, as well as a six-track rail infrastructure, two of which are already operational. The operator is Damietta Alliance Container Terminals S.A.E., a joint venture between Hapag-Lloyd Damietta GmbH (39%), EUROGATE Damietta GmbH (29.5%), CONTSHIP Damietta S.p.A. (29.5%), and Egyptian partners. The project places particular emphasis on industrial safety, energy efficiency, and emission reduction through the use of electric and hybrid equipment.