CAIRO: The 15-meter deep Damietta water way is to be deepened for the first time since its inauguration in July 1986, said Chairman of Damietta Port Authority (DPA) Ayman Saleh, Youm7 reported Wednesday.
According to Saleh, through cooperation with the ministry of transportation and maritime transport sector, the authority contracted with the Netherlands’ Volvox Asia dredger to perform the deepening process.
“The deepening process targets dealing with the new generation of ships that are supposed to flock to the port after establishing new docks with large drafts,” Saleh told Youm7.
He noted that the deepening is to be completed within six months; the activity of the port is to continue normally while the dredger is deepening the water way.
In July, the Damietta port participated in the Egyptian Ports and Waterways Summit held in Cairo to “review ways of developing the maritime transport system in Egypt and to discuss the expansion of Egyptian ports in conformity with the goals of the Suez Canal development and operation plan,” DPA reported.
During the summit, Saleh highlighted recent projects being implemented in Damietta port, including the inauguration of two 420-meter long berths.