Morocco’s new Nador West Med port has taken another step towards opening after receiving its first three giant container cranes. The cranes arrived at the port’s East Terminal, which is due to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026. They will be used to load and unload some of the world’s biggest container ships.
The Ship to Shore (STS) cranes were delivered to West Med Container Terminal (WMCT), the company that will operate the terminal. Their arrival marks the start of the installation and testing phase before the first commercial ships begin using the port.
Built by Chinese company ZPMC, the world’s largest maker of port equipment, the Super Post Panamax cranes can handle container ships carrying up to 26 rows of containers. They are also designed to work with the latest generation of vessels, including ships more than 400 metres long that can carry over 24,000 TEUs.
The cranes are expected to speed up loading and unloading, helping ships spend less time in port.
The East Terminal will eventually be equipped with 15 quay cranes and 45 electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes.
When fully operational, the terminal will be able to handle 3.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) each year. It will have 1,520 metres of quay with a depth of 18 metres, along with 70 hectares of container storage and logistics space.
The terminal is operated by WMCT, a joint venture between Moroccan port operator Marsa Maroc and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), a subsidiary of MSC, the world’s largest container shipping company.
In January 2026, TIL completed its investment in the project and now owns 50% minus one share of the concession company. Marsa Maroc holds the remaining 50% plus one share, keeping majority control.
The wider Nador West Med project represents an investment of 51 billion dirhams, or about $5.6bn, from public and private partners. The port also includes a main breakwater stretching more than four kilometres and dedicated oil terminals.
Located on one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, Nador West Med aims to attract more international cargo traffic between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean. Once open, it will strengthen Morocco’s port network alongside Tanger Med.
