The Damietta Alliance Container Terminal has begun commercial operations in Egypt, with Hapag-Lloyd's Essen Express the first vessel to call, reports the American Journal of Transportation.

The 13,117-TEU ship is scheduled to berth, marking the opening of the new facility. Contship chief executive Matthieu Gasselin said the terminal strengthens the group's presence in the Mediterranean and North Africa and will support future intermodal development in Damietta and Greater Cairo.

Designed mainly for transshipment, the terminal has an annual capacity of 3.3 million TEU. Cargo is expected to be 80 per cent transshipment and 20 per cent import and export, serving Egypt as well as regional markets including the Levant and the Black Sea.

The facility spans 93 hectares with a quay length of 1,670 metres and water depth of 18 metres. Equipment includes 12 fully electric ship-to-shore cranes, 40 hybrid rubber-tyred gantry cranes, spreaders, lashing cages, out-of-gauge frames and rail infrastructure with six train lanes, two of which are operational at launch.

Damietta Alliance Container Terminals SAE is a joint venture comprising Hapag-Lloyd Damietta GmbH with 39 per cent, EUROGATE Damietta GmbH and CONTSHIP Damietta SpA with 29.5 per cent each, and Ship & CREW Egypt SAE and Middle East Logistics & Consultants Group with one per cent each.

The first phase of the project represented an investment exceeding US$600 million.