APM Terminals will develop and operate a new transhipment terminal at the Tanger Med 2 port complex in Tangier, Morocco.

According to APM, the new €758 million (US$ 861 million) facility, to be known as APM Terminals MedPort Tangier, will be operated under a 30-year concession agreement with the Tanger Med Special Agency. Estimated to be operational in 2019, it is designed to handle 5 million TEUs a year and will be the first automated terminal in Africa.

“APM Terminals has been in Morocco since the creation of our first company APM Terminals Tangier in March 2005 in partnership with AKWA Group and the start of port operations in July 2007,” said Kim Fejfer, CEO of APM Terminals. “Today’s announcement shows our strong commitment to investing in trade and improving supply chains in the West Med market. Morocco and its port arm, TMSA, have been very supportive of APM Terminals’ vision for the West Med. APM Terminals MedPort Tangier will bring important innovation and future capacity into the West Med market on one of the world’s most strategic seaways – the Strait of Gibraltar.”

APM uses its Tangier terminal together with its Algeciras terminal on the Spanish side of the Strait of Gibraltar as an integrated Western Mediterranean transhipment hub for vessels moving between Europe and the Far East.

The new terminal will increase the Tanger-Med port’s total throughput capacity to more than 9 million TEUs per year, according to APM.