Upon High Royal Instructions: HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Launches Operations of the First Container Terminal at Nador West Med Port

NADOR (FesNews Media) — Upon High Instructions from His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan presided on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Nador West Med Industrial and Port Complex (Commune of Iaazzanen, Province of Nador), over the official launch of operations of the port’s first container terminal (Eastern Container Terminal), marking the operational commissioning of this strategic Mediterranean maritime and industrial hub.

54 Billion Dirhams in Cumulative Public and Private Investments

The inauguration of the Eastern Container Terminal by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan reflects the special royal vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to modernize Morocco’s major national infrastructure, foster new regional poles of industrial and logistics growth in the Oriental Region, and consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a premier international maritime platform connecting the Mediterranean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

To date, the Nador West Med Industrial and Port Complex has mobilized nearly 54 billion dirhams in cumulative investments:

• Public Investment: 31 billion DH dedicated to core port infrastructure, breakwaters, quays, and industrial zones.
• Private Investment: 23 billion DH committed by leading domestic and global operators for terminal equipment, superstructures, and industrial ecosystems.

Eastern Container Terminal: 3.5 Million TEU Capacity in Partnership with Marsa Maroc & MSC (TiL)

Built across a linear quay of 1,520 meters with an 18-meter water draft and 70 hectares of yard space, the new Eastern Container Terminal will provide an annual handling capacity of 3.5 million TEUs by 2030.

Representing a dedicated investment of nearly 5 billion DH, the 25-year concession for the Eastern Container Terminal was awarded to a consortium comprising Marsa Maroc (Africa’s fourth-largest container terminal operator) and Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), the terminal operating arm of MSC (the world’s largest container shipping line), whose President and CEO Diego Aponte, TiL CEO Ammar Kanaan, and Africa Director David Elbez greeted HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan during the ceremony.

Expansion Roadmap: 5.3 Million TEUs Total Capacity by April 2027

• Western Container Terminal (April 2027): Featuring a capacity of 1.8 million TEUs across a 900-meter quay and 38 hectares of yard area, developed under a 3 billion DH investment by a consortium of Marsa Maroc and CMA CGM (the world’s third-largest container shipping group), bringing Nador West Med’s total container capacity to 5.3 million TEUs.
• Solid Bulk Terminal (June 2027): Designed for an annual capacity of 7 million tons.
• General Cargo Terminal (December 2028): Spanning 22 hectares with a capacity of 3 million tons.

During the ceremony, HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan officially launched the unloading of the very first commercial container from the container ship MSC Genova berthed at the Eastern Container Terminal.