Damietta handles record bulk shipment

Egypt’s Damietta Port has received the Panama-flagged bulk carrier YANG FAN with 144,780 tonnes of slag ore, the largest bulk cargo shipment handled by the port since it began operations.

The vessel arrived from Singapore carrying cargo imported from China, marking a significant operational test for one of Egypt’s main Mediterranean gateways. The ship measures 289 metres in length and 45 metres in width, with a draught of 16 metres, placing it among the larger dry bulk carriers to call at the port.

The port authority said the safe berthing of the vessel reflected the capacity of Damietta’s navigational channel, marine berths and upgraded handling systems to receive deep-draught ships. The operation was supported by pilots, towing crews, marine service teams and mooring workers, who guided and secured the vessel during its arrival.

Major General Tarek Adly Abdallah, chairperson of the Damietta Port Authority, said the call demonstrated the impact of development works carried out at the port, including dredging, berth deepening, modernisation of marine services and improvements in cargo-handling operations. He said the port’s ability to accommodate a vessel of this size showed its growing readiness to compete for larger shipments across the Mediterranean and Red Sea-linked trade corridors.

Unloading is being carried out using equipment operated by Sisco Trans for Advanced Logistics, in coordination with port authorities and other relevant agencies. The cargo consists of slag ore, a bulk commodity widely used in construction materials and industrial processes, particularly cement production.

The shipment comes as Egypt continues to invest heavily in ports, logistics zones and inland transport links as part of a wider strategy to position the country as a regional centre for transit trade. Damietta, located near the eastern branch of the Nile Delta, has been central to that plan because of its container operations, bulk-handling capacity and proximity to industrial zones serving domestic and export markets.

The port’s development has included work to improve navigational depth and berth efficiency, allowing it to receive larger vessels and reduce operational bottlenecks. Such upgrades are increasingly important as global shipping lines consolidate cargo on larger ships to reduce per-tonne costs, forcing ports to expand capacity or risk losing traffic to better-equipped competitors.

Damietta’s record bulk shipment also underlines Egypt’s effort to diversify port activity beyond containers. Dry bulk cargoes, including grains, coal, ores, fertilisers and industrial inputs, remain central to the country’s supply chains. Larger bulk calls can help reduce freight costs for importers when port infrastructure allows safe handling and quick discharge.

The YANG FAN call follows wider activity across Egypt’s maritime sector, where authorities have been expanding capacity at major ports including Alexandria, Sokhna, East Port Said and Damietta. The government has promoted port modernisation as part of a national logistics network designed to connect seaports with dry ports, railway corridors and industrial areas.

Damietta has also gained attention through the launch of new container terminal operations. The Damietta Alliance Container Terminals project is designed to add substantial container capacity, strengthening the port’s role in Mediterranean transshipment and direct trade. That expansion sits alongside bulk and general cargo improvements intended to broaden the port’s revenue base and reduce dependence on any single cargo segment.

For Egypt, the strategic value of Damietta lies in its location and the scale of its existing infrastructure. The port serves agricultural, industrial and consumer markets across the Nile Delta while also offering access to international maritime routes through the Mediterranean. Its ability to receive larger ships supports the government’s broader target of capturing more logistics activity tied to Europe, Africa, the Gulf and Asia.

Operational challenges remain. Larger vessels require careful coordination of pilots, tugs, berths, storage yards, customs clearance and inland transport. Cargo discharge can also place pressure on road and storage systems if downstream logistics are not synchronised. Port officials have therefore linked the latest call to ongoing work to modernise procedures, improve marine services and expand handling efficiency.