Nador West Med port completes East Terminal preparations ahead of schedule

The East Terminal of the Nador West Med port has completed its operational preparations ahead of its original late 2026 schedule. The concessionaire, West Med Container Terminal (WMCT)—a joint venture between Marsa Maroc and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL)—announced that the facility is ready to process its first commercial calls.

The terminal features a 1,520-meter quay, an 18-meter draft, and 70 hectares of storage area, with a capacity to handle up to 3.4 million TEUs. Equipment includes 15 quay cranes and 45 yard cranes to accommodate large vessels.

In a significant operational milestone, the Dutch carrier WEC Lines launched a weekly feeder service on September 10. The ISS-PT service utilizes two vessels to connect the port with Iberian locations, including Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, and Cadiz, as well as Setúbal and Sines in Portugal. This regional rotation serves as a testing phase for customs procedures and handling systems before the arrival of larger container ships.

The broader Nador West Med project involves total public and private investments of 51 billion dirhams. A second terminal, operated by CMA Terminals, is expected to be operational by 2027, eventually bringing the complex's total capacity to 5.3 million TEUs.