Nador West Med: Marsa Maroc Strengthens Port Training

Marsa Maroc Enhances Port Training to Support National Infrastructure Development

Marsa Maroc is strengthening the training of its teams to support the development of the Kingdom’s port infrastructure. On October 11, 2026, the Port Training Institute (PTI), affiliated with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, announced the signing of a contract in Morocco dedicated to training operators for the container cranes at the Nador West Med terminal.

This agreement is accompanied by a broader framework contract focused on training crane operators across all ports managed by Marsa Maroc. The cooperation aims to develop the technical skills necessary for operating handling equipment and support the growth of national port activities.

Tailored Training for Port Equipment

The program for the Nador West Med terminal includes a curriculum that combines theoretical courses, simulator exercises, and hands-on practice with cranes. This progression is designed to equip trainees with the technical knowledge they need before familiarizing themselves with the equipment they will use in their roles.

However, the PTI has not disclosed the contract amount, the number of beneficiaries, or the duration of the training sessions. The implementation details of the framework agreement in other Marsa Maroc facilities are also yet to be clarified.

This initiative is aligned with the broader context of developing Morocco’s port capabilities, where mastery of specialized equipment and the availability of qualified personnel are significant challenges for operating container terminals.

Partnership Between Marsa Maroc and CMA CGM in Nador

The contract pertains to the West terminal of Nador West Med, which will be operated by a joint company comprising Marsa Maroc and CMA Terminals, a subsidiary of the French maritime group CMA CGM.

Introduced in October 2025, the partnership stipulates that Marsa Maroc will hold a majority stake, owning 51% of the capital and voting rights of the concession company. CMA Terminals is set to retain the remaining 49%, pending the necessary authorizations.

This structure places the Moroccan operator in a dominant position within the organization responsible for operating the terminal. The project is part of the development of the Nador West Med port complex, which aims to enhance the logistical and maritime capabilities of the Kingdom.

A Terminal with a Capacity of 1.8 Million TEUs

The West terminal will feature 900 meters of quay, a depth of 18 meters, and 37.5 hectares of storage space, all within a total area of 60 hectares. The facility also plans to install eight quay cranes, with an announced annual capacity of 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the measurement unit used for container transport.

Progressive commissioning is expected to begin in 2027. The initial agreement, signed in October 2024, mentioned an investment of $280 million (approximately 2.59 billion dirhams) as part of a 25-year sub-concession. At that time, the projected capacity was estimated at 1.2 million TEUs per year.

Since then, the targeted capacity has been revised upward to 1.8 million TEUs. However, the initial investment amount has not been updated publicly in the information released in 2025.

Strong Cooperation Before New Agreements

Relations between Marsa Maroc and the PTI began before the announcement of the agreements in October. On June 15, a delegation from the Moroccan group visited Alexandria, Egypt, to explore the educational facilities and simulation equipment of the institute.

Discussions focused particularly on training programs for crane operators in container terminals and docks dedicated to general cargo. These training programs combine technical learning, simulator exercises, and hands-on practice with handling equipment.

The Moroccan delegation included Saïd Sebaï, director of the support division of Marsa Maroc; Zouhair Seil, port director in Agadir; and Adel Ben Rass, head of human resources.

Initial Training Sessions Already Conducted in Nador

The collaboration between the two institutions has already resulted in several training sessions for Moroccan port personnel. The PTI has organized an advanced program for crane operators assigned to general cargo, as well as training for staff at the West Med Container Terminal (WMCT).

The first series of sessions concluded on June 24 with a certificate award ceremony. On September 17, the Egyptian institution also reported that Moroccan trainees had participated in their first loading operation of a vessel at the respective terminal, following their theoretical and practical training.

This operation coincided with the arrival of the first vessel at the concerned terminal. The exercises were supervised by Hicham Hamdi, head of crane simulations, and Mohamed Gamal, head of the unit responsible for these facilities.

On this occasion, Alaa Mahmoud Morsy, director of the PTI, met with Najib Chikhi, general manager of the West Med Container Terminal, during a visit dedicated to discussing the results of the initial training sessions.

It is important to distinguish this terminal, located in the eastern part of the port complex, from the West terminal associated with CMA CGM under the new training contract.

Skills Development: A Key Issue for Moroccan Port Development

With this new agreement, the cooperation between Marsa Maroc and the PTI extends to a training program expected to cover several port facilities across the Kingdom. The goal is to prepare operators for the use of specialized equipment while aligning with the evolving operational needs of the terminals.

At Nador West Med, this skills enhancement is crucial as it precedes the gradual commissioning of the West terminal, scheduled to begin in 2027. Training the teams represents a critical component of preparing for the operation of the new port infrastructures.