PORT OF TOAMASINA – A new container dock within twelve months

The construction of a new container quay is part of the Toamasina port extension project. It will be ready within twelve months.

This will be one of the major changes with the Toamasina port extension project. The infrastructure will be equipped with a new quay reserved for receiving container ships. Called quay C4, it will be 470 meters long with a draft of 16 meters, which will allow it to accommodate the latest generation boats, capable of transporting up to three thousand boxes.

“If all goes well, this new quay will be completed within twelve months, already equipped with all the necessary installations for its commissioning,” explains Christian Avellin Eddy, general director of the autonomously managed port company, by telephone. Toamasina (Spat).

The project to expand this largest port in the country includes four major components. The first, which is already completed in 2023, consists of building 345 meters of protective dike or breakwater. The construction of the new quay is part of the second component with completion scheduled for this year 2024.

The third component is a continuation of this second. This involves the development of 10 hectares of additional land, intended for the storage of containers. And the third component includes deepening the water at the three existing docks. Quays one and two will be raised to 14 meters while quay C3, which is currently used to accommodate large container ships, will also have a draft of 16 meters.

Accommodation capacity

According to the CEO of Spat, the port of Toamasina must equip itself with modern infrastructure in order to develop its capacity to accommodate large ships and store containerized goods. “This will lead to a reduction in the waiting time for boats, an increase in the number of landings for large ships and a strengthening of the financial solidity of Spat,” he specifies.

Until now, Toamasina could not accommodate Panamax type boats (nearly 300 meters long, Editor’s note). The latter then had to transship the goods destined for Madagascar in other ports such as Reunion or Mauritius. At the end of the work, they will now be able to dock directly in Toamasina.

Providing energy to meet the new needs of the infrastructure after the extension constitutes the headache for the project promoters. Up to 11 additional megawatts would be needed as Toamasina, like the entire country, faces a major energy crisis. According to the latest news, during the last visit of the Head of State to the economic capital of the country, a solution would already be in the process of being realized. A new high-capacity group would already be planned for the capital of Betsimisaraka and, obviously, will benefit the port.

Madagascar Express