Damietta Port holds a vital role in Egypt’s economic landscape due to its strategic location and historical significance. As one of the country’s key entry points for international trade and transit services, the port has seen continuous development and transformation over the centuries. Initially flourishing as a bustling hub for commerce and industry, Damietta faced periods of decline, particularly during the Crusades and with the rise of other Egyptian ports like Alexandria and Port Said. However, in the modern era, concerted efforts have been made to revive the port and expand its capacity. With its close proximity to the Suez Canal and integration into Egypt’s road and rail networks, Damietta is poised to play an even larger role in facilitating global trade. The port’s development aligns with Egypt’s broader economic strategy, focusing on increasing exports, supporting local industries, and leveraging its geographical advantages to enhance its competitive edge.

 

Historical Background 

Damietta, with its strategic geographical location, was historically Egypt’s primary port and second most significant city after the capital. Its social development was closely tied to its economic prosperity, driven by the port’s activity. This led to a thriving industry and flourishing commerce, along with cultural and architectural advancements. By 1800, Damietta had a population of around 40,000, significantly larger than Alexandria’s 5,000. 

During the Crusades, Al-Zaher Bebars ordered the obstruction of Damietta’s port with stones and barriers. Over time, sand and silt accumulated due to Egypt’s irrigation projects and the construction of Al-Mahmoudiya Canal, which connected Alexandria’s port to the western Nile branch. In 1869, with the inauguration of the Suez Canal, Port Said experienced rapid growth, further contributing to the decline of Damietta’s port. The emergence of larger commercial vessels and the construction of Al-Qantara railway further diminished Damietta’s relevance. Despite these challenges, the demand for rebuilding the port persisted among Damietta’s inhabitants, and this long-held aspiration was realised when President Sadat laid the foundation stone for the new port in June 1981. 

The Port Today

Located approximately 8.4 km west of the Nile’s mouth at Damietta, the port benefits from its proximity to the entry of the Suez Canal, offering a strategic advantage for international shipping lines, even if goods are not destined for Egypt. The port’s location also provides convenient access to Egypt’s main road networks. 

By 2000, the port expanded to include 27 quays, with a total length of 6 km and depths ranging between 11-15 metres. The port features container storage facilities, refrigerated warehouses, transit depots, administrative offices, maintenance workshops, a silo, cement storage, a power plant, desalination and drainage treatment stations, and fuel depots. There are also fire-fighting and emergency units, as well as telecommunication services. 

The adjacent free zone employs local labour to convert raw materials into manufactured goods for export. Industries in the free zone include furniture, textiles, clothing, leather goods, wood products, and food processing. In addition, the zone handles container and dry bulk (unpacked) cargo such as cement. 

The port’s economic and social impact is significant, with potential for future expansion, potentially attracting workers from rural areas to the port and the new city of Damietta. 

Damietta Port’s Role in the National Economy

The Ministry of Marine Transportation’s plans for Damietta port aim to integrate its operations with other Egyptian ports and boost national income by introducing modern techniques. Key features of the port include: 

  • The ability to accommodate large vessels of up to 80,000 tons with a draft of up to 42 feet. 
  • A modern container terminal with advanced facilities, focusing on attracting international shipping lines that may use the port as a transit hub for containers. 
  • A large silo equipped with automatic loading and unloading systems, enabling the efficient handling of large wheat shipments, thus reducing Egypt’s freight costs. The silo has an unloading capacity of 18,000 tons per day. 
  • The port’s design and navigation systems allow ships to arrive and depart safely and efficiently under all weather conditions, day or night. 
  • A well-equipped administrative area, including internet access, offers low-cost services for companies operating within the port. 
  • Extensive storage spaces that can accommodate large volumes of imported and exported goods without congestion or delays. These facilities also support smaller maritime transportation projects. 
  • Adjacent free industrial and storage zones provide opportunities for international investment projects that can capitalise on the port’s capabilities. 
  • Multiple transportation links, including dual carriageways, a railway network connected to Egypt’s rail system, a canal linking the port to the Nile’s Damietta branch, and the international coastal road connecting the Maghreb to Turkey, further enhance the port’s accessibility.

These factors, combined with modern management practices and high-quality services, have rapidly positioned Damietta as a leading port in Egypt and globally. This is evidenced by the following growth statistics in ship and cargo traffic, as well as time savings at the port: 

  • The number of ships calling at the port increased from 80 in 1987 to 1,659 in 1996. 
  • Cargo handling rose from 2.083 million tons in 1987 to 11.7 million tons in 1996, far exceeding the port’s original capacity of 5.6 million tons per year. 
  • International shipping lines began using the port for container transit in 1990, with the number of containers handled growing from 77,658 in 1990 to 586,030 in 1996. 
  • The port achieved a time-saving of $1.7 million in 1996, a 66.7% increase from 1995. Since its inception, the port has achieved a cumulative time-saving value of $9.6 million by the end of 1996. 

Traffic Analysis of Ships and Goods in FY 2000-2001 

Ships Traffic

Between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2001, Damietta port handled a total of 1,884 ships, which included 1,162 container ships, 473 traditional general cargo ships, 156 dry bulk cargo ships, and 93 grain ships. The ships were distributed fairly evenly throughout the months, with the port experiencing consistent traffic across different seasons. 

Goods Traffic 

During the same fiscal year, the port received a total incoming cargo of 8,522,197 tons. This volume included a significant portion of containerised cargo, bulk dry goods, and general goods. On the other hand, outgoing cargo for the same period reached a total of 4,278,765 tons, consisting primarily of containerised goods and bulk dry goods. The port’s total volume of handled goods, including both incoming and outgoing traffic, amounted to 12,800,862 tons. 

Container Traffic 

The port handled 627,224 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers during this period. Of these, 86,950 containers were destined for domestic use, while 540,274 containers were designated for transit purposes, reflecting the port’s growing importance as a transit hub for international shipping lines.

Realised Time Gain

The time-saving measures implemented at Damietta port resulted in a total gain of $801,991 during the fiscal year. This time-saving was achieved through the efficient management of ships, reducing lay-time and improving turnaround for vessels. 

Breakdown of Ships Traffic 

The port experienced a steady flow of ships, with container ships representing the largest share of traffic. In July 2000, the port received 94 container ships, followed by an average of 90-104 container ships per month for the rest of the fiscal year. General cargo and grain ships also contributed to the port’s operations, with an average of 50-60 general cargo ships and 6-12 grain ships arriving monthly. 

Ships Traffic Rates

The shipping cycle at Damietta port during the fiscal year revealed that container ships had an average cycle of 3.2 days. Grain ships had the shortest average cycle at 0.3 days, while bulk and general cargo ships had cycles of 0.4 and 1.3 days, respectively. Overall, the port managed an efficient cycle for its 1,884 incoming ships, maintaining a fast turnaround rate. 

Breakdown of Incoming Goods 

The incoming goods handled by Damietta port totalled 8,522,197 tons during the fiscal year. Among these, 36.91% were containerised goods, equivalent to 3,145,817 tons. Bulk dry goods represented 43.15% of the incoming cargo, amounting to 3,677,166 tons. The remaining 19.94%, or 1,699,214 tons, were classified as general goods. This balanced distribution of cargo types highlights the port’s ability to handle a wide range of goods, making it a versatile hub for both local and international trade. 

Breakdown of Outgoing Goods 

Outgoing goods during the same period reached a total of 4,278,765 tons. Of these, containerised cargo accounted for 76.62%, amounting to 3,278,584 tons. This included 2,578,912 tons of goods in containers and 699,672 tons attributed to empty containers. General goods comprised 21.42% of the outgoing goods, while bulk goods accounted for 1.96%, or 83,881 tons. The figures demonstrate the port’s strong focus on container handling as its core function, with supplementary services in bulk and general goods traffic. 

Total Handled Ingoing and Outgoing Goods  

During this period, Damietta port handled a total of 12,800,962 tons of goods. Of this total, containerised goods made up 56.76% of the handled volume, amounting to 6,424,401 tons. Bulk goods contributed 22.56% to the total, while general goods represented 20.68%, equivalent to 2,616,614 tons. The efficient handling of a large volume of goods across different categories highlights the port’s growing capacity and its ability to meet increasing demands for international trade and shipping. 

Handled Container Traffic

Damietta port processed 627,224 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers during this period. The full containers made up 66.16% of the total handled containers, with transit containers representing the majority at 83.71%. Empty containers accounted for 33.84%, with transit containers comprising 90.89% of this share. These figures underscore the port’s critical role as a transit hub for container shipping, contributing to its growing significance in global maritime trade. 

Realised Time Gain

During the specified fiscal year, 22 ships at Damietta port achieved a combined time-saving of 138 days and 2 hours. This time-saving contributed to a financial gain of $801,991, reflecting the port’s efforts to optimise operations and reduce ship lay-time. The port’s efficient operations, coupled with its strategic location and modern facilities, have enabled significant cost savings for both the port and the ships using its services. 

To conclude, the continued development of Damietta Port is critical for Egypt’s long-term economic growth and its positioning as a hub for international trade. By integrating advanced technologies, expanding infrastructure, and improving its logistical capacity, the port is well-equipped to handle the increasing demands of global maritime commerce. Its strategic location near the Suez Canal, coupled with efficient management practices, ensures that Damietta Port remains competitive and attractive to shipping lines from across the world. Moreover, its role in facilitating both import and export activities will contribute to enhancing Egypt’s economic stability and growth in the future. The port’s ability to adapt to global shipping trends, coupled with its expansive capacity for container handling and transit services, positions it as a cornerstone of Egypt’s transportation and trade networks. As Damietta continues to grow, it will remain an essential asset in driving economic development and fostering international connections.