Nador West Med Prepares for Launch of First Commercial Operations

The Nador West Med port project is entering a new phase, with preparations intensifying for the launch of its first commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Currently, work is focused on the East Container Terminal, where new handling and vessel management equipment is being progressively installed. This equipment includes electric Rubber Tyred Gantry cranes (eRTG) for the container yards, as well as giant Super Post-Panamax Ship-to-Shore cranes capable of servicing the largest container ships.

The East Terminal management is handled by West Med Container Terminal, a partnership between Marsa Maroc and Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), a subsidiary of the MSC Group.

The first phase of the project includes the installation of 15 quay cranes and 45 yard cranes, with the gradual commissioning of various infrastructures. Thus, the East Terminal is expected to commence operations in the last months of 2026, prior to an expansion in 2027 that will introduce various terminals including a Ro-Ro terminal, the West Container Terminal, and additional platforms dedicated to goods and energy.

Situated on the Mediterranean coast near the Strait of Gibraltar, Nador West Med is one of Morocco’s strategic port projects. It aims to enhance the nation’s container handling and transshipment capacities while fostering the development of an integrated industrial and logistics ecosystem.

Additionally, the project is set to stimulate the economy of the Oriental region, attracting new investments and developing activities related to transport, logistics, and international trade.

As its commissioning approaches, Nador West Med positions itself as a major future maritime hub, intended to complement Morocco’s port network and bolster the Kingdom’s strategic standing between Europe, Africa, and international markets.