Historic Arrival of a Bulk Carrier at Casablanca Port
The multipurpose terminal of Marsa Maroc at Casablanca Port has marked a significant milestone with the arrival of its first large-capacity ship since the initiation of the first phase of its wharf deepening project. This inaugural docking signifies the operational realization of the enhancements made to increase the terminal's capacity and diversify the range of vessels it can accommodate.
Marsa Maroc and Cosumar have reached a new milestone with the reception of a large-capacity bulk carrier. According to Marsa Maroc, the vessel in question is a sugar bulk carrier measuring 200 meters in length, chartered by the Cosumar Group, transporting a staggering 55,000 tons of raw sugar. This operation was made possible due to the newly established draft of 12 meters at the terminal, following the rehabilitation and deepening of the wharves.
This docking represents a first for Casablanca Port. In its announcement, Marsa Maroc emphasized that this achievement was facilitated by the recently completed first phase of the terminal's wharf rehabilitation and deepening project, which has now reached a depth of 12 meters.
Investment in Port Infrastructure Yields Immediate Benefits
Beyond the significance of this event, the operation underscores the immediate benefits of investments made in port infrastructure. Khalid Mansour, Director of the Bulk Business Unit at Marsa Maroc, stated, "We are witnessing the opening of Casablanca Port to a new range of large-capacity bulk carrier calls." He elaborated that "230 linear meters of the wharf have now been rehabilitated and deepened to 12 meters," enabling the terminal to accommodate vessels with capacities nearing 60,000 tons.
This increase in capacity is part of a broader trajectory. Marsa Maroc has stated that its goal is to extend this wharf line to 530 meters by 2028, aiming to equip the terminal with a total capacity exceeding 8 million tons.
For the Cosumar Group, the primary user of this new port configuration, the benefits are already noticeable. Anas Jamal Eddine, the Group's Commercial, Marketing, and Supply Chain Director, noted, "The partnership between Cosumar Group and Marsa Maroc exemplifies what a port-operator-industrial collaboration should be: a lever for mutual growth." He emphasized that the wharf deepening works, combined with operational improvements undertaken in collaboration with Marsa Maroc, now enable the group to charter larger vessels. This development, he pointed out, generates "significant port and logistical optimizations for its competitiveness."
Through this inaugural docking, Marsa Maroc highlights the operational benefits of the deepening of the Casablanca multipurpose terminal. The reception of a bulk carrier transporting nearly 55,000 tons of raw sugar serves as the first concrete demonstration of the new capabilities offered by the rehabilitated and deepened wharves of the terminal.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
