Marsa Maroc, Morocco’s largest port operator, announced on Wednesday that it had been awarded a contract for the operation of a second terminal in Nador West Med Port on the Mediterranean Coast.

The terminal is 18 meters deep and extends along 1440 metres of quay. A first section of 900 m will be dedicated to container activities, while 540 m will be used for general cargo handling.

Marsa Maroc announced that it would invest initially 280 million Euros in the terminal located west of Nador West Med.

Marsa Maroc was awarded a contract in June to operate a container port east of Nador West Med. The new port will enhance Morocco's position in global supply chains, adding to Tanger Med Port which is the top Mediterranean port in terms of container handling and capacity.

Marsa Maroc, a company listed in Casablanca, manages nine ports throughout Morocco including Tanger Med 1 & Casablanca.

It increased its African presence last year by signing agreements to operate terminals 1, 5 and 6 at the Port of Cotonou, Benin. In January, the company announced that it would invest an undisclosed amount in Damerjog Oil FZE which plans to build an oil-and-gas port on Djibouti’s Gulf of Aden coastline. (Reporting and editing by Christina Fincher)

(source: Reuters)