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RABAT – The city of Tangier, once considered the end of the world with its Pillars of Hercules, is aiming to become the top port in the Mediterranean with a model of European and African development in visionary plans by the king of Morocco. From the Strait of Gibraltar to 186 ports on five continents
By 2025, enormous transport numbers are expected for the city’s Tanger Med port, including nine million containers, one million automobiles exported, 70 million passengers, and 700,000 trucks per year.
Tanger Med 2, the third phase of development of a series of docks and terminals that will serve as a jumping-off point for 186 ports and 77 countries on five continents, launched at the end of June.
The inauguration took place in the presence of Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, and focused attention on numbers.
“There are more than 900 companies based in this hub that represent eight billion dollars in exports in various sectors – aeronautics, agriculture, textiles, and services,” said Hassan Abkari, port director.
“They have created more than 75,000 jobs. This port’s strategic position, on the Strait of Gilbraltar, makes it unique. More than 100,000 ships pass through here each year and more than 200 cargo ships cross the strait every day,” he said.
Tanger Med was the top port in Africa in 2018, and with Tanger Med 2 it will become the top-capacity port in the Mediterranean, with the goal of becoming one of the top 20 in the world.
It has nearly three kilometres of piers with a depth of 18 metres, and nearly five kilometres of docks.
This new part brings investments to an overall total of more than 88 billion dirhams, of which 53 billion came from private investors. Italian operators include Alfagomma, Steelfid, and Sigit for the automotive sector; Contship for container transport; and Grimaldi, MSC Cruises, and Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) for passenger transport.
Tanger Med is the first African port to be certified an EcoPort, given to ports that respect anti-pollution regulations.
