Casablanca Goes Maritime Heavy

Morocco’s National Ports Agency (ANP) has opened an international tender for a 30-year concession to operate Africa’s largest shipyard. The $300 million facility, planned for construction in Casablanca.

There are currently smaller shipyards along the Casablanca coastline that build and service mostly fishing vessels; however, this ambitious long-term project aims to replicate the success in automotive manufacturing that Morocco has seen.

The new Casablanca shipyard project will, according to Spanish outlet El Confidencial, be the largest shipping construction yard on the African continent.

The facility will include four different projects, including a dry dock, a lifting platform, a basin with a gantry crane, and outfitting quays. 

The project will seek to boost Morocco’s maritime capabilities and potentially capture business from Southern Europe. 

Key Features of the New Shipyard:

• Size: 52 acres (21 hectares). 
• Infrastructure:
  • 244-meter x 40-meter dry dock. 
  • 150-meter x 28-meter lifting platform with a 9,000-tonne capacity. 
  • 62-meter x 13-meter basin with a 450-ton gantry crane. 
  • 820 meters of outfitting quays. 
• Capacity: Expected to have the capacity to handle a significant amount of ship repair and maintenance work. 
• Potential for shipbuilding: The tender process allows bidders to propose a ship-building component. 
• Economic Impact: The project aims to promote industrial development and create skilled jobs. 

Project Goals:

• Enhance Maritime Autonomy: Enable Morocco to maintain and repair its own military vessels locally. 
• Capture Business: Attract repair and maintenance work from Southern Europe and beyond. 
• Boost Regional Infrastructure: Upgrade Morocco’s port infrastructure and contribute to regional development. 
• Expand Industrial Capabilities: Develop a strong naval sector and replicate the success of Morocco’s automotive industry.