Djibouti’s Doraleh Multipurpose Port, the country’s largest facility, has stated it has enough capacity to handle an influx of cargo vessels rerouted due to the Persian Gulf conflict. Ships diverting from Jebel Ali Port are joining regular Ethiopian transit and transshipment operations without causing congestion. Officials emphasized ample storage and berthing space during a visit on April 7.
Djibouti’s Doraleh Multipurpose Port (DMP), the nation’s largest facility, announced it has sufficient waiting and storage capacity to manage cargo vessels rerouted from Jebel Ali Port amid the Persian Gulf conflict. Officials told Capital Newspaper that despite high activity, the port handles the influx alongside regular Ethiopian transit and transshipment services. DMP spans 192 hectares plus a dedicated yard in the Free Zone.
During a Capital reporter’s site visit on April 7, a roll-on/roll-off vessel operated by Kai Diang Shipping Company was seen reloading vehicles originally shipped from China via Jebel Ali back to the Far East. Berths operate at full capacity with up to five vessels loading or unloading simultaneously, and only seven are waiting to dock with no anchorage congestion. The port includes silos for 85,000 tons of grain and 185,000 tons of fertilizer, plus a bulk terminal with three quays for wheat and commodities.
The adjacent Doraleh Container Terminal, managed by SGTD, reports half its operations as transshipment and has added four Ultra Large Container Vessel cranes to handle ships up to 23,000 TEUs. It processes 1.2 million TEUs annually with double capacity. “We have ample capacity to handle huge volumes,” SGTD officials said. It is the only facility linked to the Ethio-Djibouti Railway, with an expanded 800-meter rail cargo system.
Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority Chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi stated priority goes to Ethiopian-destined cargo. He adopted a cautious stance on promoting Djibouti further as a transshipment hub: “We are visible enough. We don’t want to be more visible. It’s very dangerous to be more visible,” he told Capital on Monday.