Egypt has launched trial operations at Red Sea Container Terminal No. 1 at Sokhna Port, marking a significant milestone in its strategy to transform national ports into a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transshipment. The launch was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir, coinciding with the arrival of the first vessel, CMA CGM Helium, from Singapore.
Sokhna Port, a central pillar of the integrated Sokhna-Alexandria logistics corridor linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, has begun trial operations at Red Sea Container Terminal No. 1. The terminal is managed by an international consortium including Hutchison Ports, CMA CGM, and COSCO, following a prior concession agreement for construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual handback.
During his visit, Minister Kamel Al-Wazir toured the central control room, receiving briefings on advanced systems controlling quay cranes and yard equipment. He observed live container discharge from the CMA CGM Helium onto the quay and yard areas. The terminal features six ship-to-shore (STS) cranes capable of handling large vessels, plus 18 automated rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes in the yard, supported by smart technologies to optimize handling, minimize human error, and boost efficiency.
Al-Wazir stated that the terminal will operate to the highest international standards, enhancing Sokhna Port's appeal to major global shipping lines and strengthening Egypt's role as a key node in global supply chains. The project aligns with a broader government strategy to forge partnerships with leading operators and lines, expand handling capacity, and increase transshipment. It aims to position Sokhna as a hub port, raise Egypt's global transshipment share, and aid exports via direct maritime services and integrated transport linking ports to railways, high-speed electric trains, and multimodal networks.
Hutchison Ports is the world's largest container terminal operator with over 50 years of experience, while CMA CGM and COSCO rank third and fourth among global shipping lines, respectively.