DP World completes dredging work at a port "Nadayan" In Senegal, 13 months before the scheduled date

Dakar, July 27, 2017 – DP World has achieved a major milestone in the development of Ndayane Port, after completing major dredging works 13 months ahead of schedule, in a pivotal station that paves the way for the development of one of the most prominent future deep-water ports in Senegal.

According to a press release issued today, more than 1,000 people are currently working directly on the project, as the pace of construction activities accelerates.

The early completion of the main dredging works represents an important milestone in the project’s implementation process, as it allows the construction of jetties and other vital water works to begin earlier than planned, which enhances the momentum of work and supports the completion of the port in 2028 according to the target schedule.

The works included dredging a 5-kilometre-long shipping lane, a ship turning basin, and a docking channel to accommodate the largest container ships in the world.

The work was carried out using two of the largest suction dredgers in the world, which confirms the magnitude of the project and its technical complexity.

More than 95% of the material removed was composed of solid rock, including rock formations whose pressure strength exceeded 100 MPa, which reflects the magnitude of the engineering challenges required by the development work, as this degree of hardness far exceeds what is usually encountered in major port development projects.

Despite these difficult geological conditions, the work was completed without resorting to blasting, which limited environmental impacts and allowed construction work to proceed in complete safety.

Mohamed Akoji, CEO and General Manager of DP World Group – Africa, said that the completion of the main dredging works 13 months before the scheduled date represents a turning point in the development process of Nadayan Port, and reflects global expertise, firm commitment and close cooperation between all partners who contributed to implementing this achievement with the highest safety standards.

He pointed out that this progress gives the group great momentum to move forward with the next phase of construction work, in preparation for the completion of the project in 2028. It also embodies its long-term commitment to Senegal, and confirms its confidence in Africa’s growing potential as a major hub in global supply chains.

He added that, as the largest single private investment in the history of Senegal, with a value of $1.2 billion, this project will play a pivotal role in achieving sustainable economic value by enhancing trade, providing job opportunities, developing connectivity networks, and enabling long-term growth and economic development opportunities in the region.

For his part, Clarence Rodriguez, CEO of DB World – Dakar, said that this achievement is a turning point in DB World – Dakar’s journey to develop a world-class infrastructure that contributes to supporting economic growth and strengthening Senegal’s position as a leading commercial and logistics center in West Africa, pointing out that the port of “Nadayan” will play a pivotal role in enhancing the country’s competitiveness, opening new horizons for local companies, and stimulating the provision of sustainable job opportunities and skills development, in a way that supports… 2.3 million trade-related jobs, enhancing access to essential goods and services for more than 7.8 million people.

Construction is currently focused on the next phase of water and civil works as the project progresses towards completion in 2028.

Since the DB World Group assumed management of the operational operations of the Port of Dakar in 2008, it has invested about $340 million to modernize the terminal and expand its infrastructure, which has enhanced the port’s capacity and raised its operational efficiency, thus supporting its position as a major trade gateway in West Africa.

Container handling witnessed remarkable growth, rising from 265,000 20-foot TEUs in 2008 to 850,000 20-foot TEUs in 2025, in parallel with reducing ship waiting times from 35 hours to nearly zero, which contributed to enhancing the efficiency of operations and accelerating trade movement.

Today, the port ranks first in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of efficiency, according to the “Global Container Port Performance Index” issued by the World Bank.

As the Port of Dakar approaches reaching its maximum capacity, the DB World Group, in cooperation with the Government of Senegal, launched the Ndayane Port Project to develop a modern deep-water gateway that represents the next generation of maritime infrastructure in the country, enhancing its ability to accommodate the increasing growth in international trade traffic.

The new port is located approximately 50 kilometers from Dakar, and will allow for future expansion of capacity while ensuring more efficient internal logistics services.

Originally scheduled for completion in September 2027, dredging will conclude in August 2026 thanks to an early start of operations in December 2024, allowing vital engineering works to begin well ahead of schedule.

Juan Carlos Sahdala, Head of Planning and Projects at the Group, said that the basic dredging work is considered one of the most technically complex stages in port development, and its completion before the specified date embodies the accuracy of planning, the efficiency of implementation, and the strength of cooperation between all parties. This achievement gives the Group great momentum to accelerate the implementation of marine and engineering works, in a way that supports the readiness of “Nadayan” Port to begin its operational operations in 2028.

The program was able to develop a navigation corridor 5 kilometers long and deepen it to 20 metres, in addition to establishing a turning basin with a diameter of 600 meters and a berthing channel with a length of 875 metres, which enhances the port’s ability to receive two giant Triple E class container ships at the same time.

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