The President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Mr ISMAEL OMAR GUELLEH, inaugurates the largest floating modular dock in the region
On Monday 31 July, the President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Mr ISMAEL OMAR GUELLEH, attended the arrival of the largest floating modular dock in the region at Quai 2 in the Port of Djibouti, from the Djibouti Shiprepair Yard. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment, H.E. Mr Hassan Houmed Ibrahim, and the Chairman of DPFZA/GHIH, Mr Aboubaker Omar Hadi. The arrival of the dock, the ambition of which dates back to 1958, marks a crucial stage in the implementation of the country’s “Vision 2035”.
Ultimately, the ship repair yard will generate more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, helping to develop Djibouti’s Blue Economy. It will also help preserve the marine environment and actively combat climate change.
DAMEN SHIPYARDS, a world leader in shipbuilding and ship repair, was awarded the contract to build the 217-metre-long, 43.5-metre-wide vessel. The unit was financed by Investment International and guaranteed by Atradius.
“We have reached an important milestone today with the arrival of our new ship repair vessel in the Port of Djibouti. This vessel, a veritable “aquatic garage”, is equipped to handle all types of breakdowns and malfunctions on private, merchant and military vessels. With an exceptional capacity of 50,000 tonnes, it far surpasses the provisions of its nearest counterpart in the region. It is further proof of our commitment to confirming Djibouti’s status as a leader in sea-related services and activities. Thanks to meticulous planning, the vessel is ready for immediate operation, supported by a team of 25 highly trained engineers. This is a strategic asset that our country has been aspiring to for decades, and we are very proud to see this day arrive. I would like to thank everyone involved in making this project a reality. Together, we are building a stronger, more prosperous future for Djibouti,” said H.E. ISMAEL OMAR GUELLEH, President of the Republic of Djibouti.
Its construction began after the President of the Republic, HE ISMAEL OMAR GUELLEH, launched work on the Djibouti Shiprepair Yard in November 2020. It required the mobilisation of around 1 million man-hours and 12,500 tons of steel. This floating dock, with a lifting capacity of 20,100 tonnes, will be responsible for carrying out curative and preventive repairs on ships undergoing refit.
This new modern technology unit will take advantage of Djibouti’s prime geographical location, at the crossroads of several continents and strategic shipping lanes for world trade, with more than 40,000 ships passing through the Bab El Mandeb Strait off Djibouti every year.
Following the example of recent maritime and port projects undertaken in Djibouti, this ship repair yard and floating dock, wholly owned by Great Horn Investments Holding, are fully in line with the strategy of continuous reinforcement working to make Djibouti a world-class hub through the synergy of maritime and port services offered to professionals. These new state-of-the-art infrastructures will change the face of the country in terms of attractiveness, reputation and quality of services provided in the region.
