Algiers – The Port of Algiers has significantly boosted its operational capacity in 2025 following extensive rehabilitation work on its docks. Since January, the port has processed nearly one million containers and received around 2,000 ships, according to remarks made on Sunday by Minister of Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport, Said Saayoud.
While presiding over the reactivation ceremony of Dock 18 after the completion of its refurbishment, Minister Saayoud stated that “the Port of Algiers has successfully processed one million containers and 2,000 ships since the beginning of the year. This achievement would not have been possible without the completion of works on docks 19, 20, and 21,” which were delivered last July.
The docks, fully refurbished by two national companies—Méditram for marine works and Cosider for public works—have greatly improved the flow of vessels and enhanced the port’s handling capacity. Thanks to these upgrades, dock occupancy rates have declined to 80% in recent months, compared to previous levels that frequently exceeded 98%.
Minister Saayoud expressed satisfaction with the qualitative improvement in port services, crediting it to professional operations and close coordination among different departments. This, he noted, has greatly improved both passenger handling and port efficiency. He also highlighted that “unloading and preparing passenger ships carrying vehicles now takes no longer than two hours,” a remarkable improvement compared to previous years.
The minister announced that new handling equipment will soon become operational, further enhancing efficiency and the speed of port operations. He added that rehabilitation work on Dock 17 will begin “this week or in the coming weeks,” with completion expected “as soon as possible.”
Strong Results Under Shift System
Minister Saayoud praised the positive results achieved since the introduction of a 24-hour shift system across six major ports. Implemented under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s directive, the system has led to a marked reduction in ship waiting times—from more than four days to less than that—and reduced loading and unloading duration to under three days, except for large vessels mainly operating in Jijel Port.
He affirmed that conditions in Jijel have also improved considerably, with waiting times reduced from over sixty days to less than fifteen, with further reductions expected soon.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Port of Algiers, Abdelhamid Boualam, explained that the four recently inaugurated docks were rehabilitated “in record time.” The project involved the complete renovation of one kilometer of docks and the construction of more than 5.5 hectares of paved platforms. Spanning 928 meters across four docks, the project has led to a 30% increase in vessel handling over the past quarter, alongside a 42% rise in container processing.
Dock 18 had been out of service since September 2022 for structural reinforcement and modernization to meet international standards. The refurbished dock now extends 225 meters with a draft depth of 9.5 meters, capable of accommodating vessels over 220 meters long.
It is equipped with lighting towers connected to a fiber-optic network, similar to other new docks. The load capacity of all four renovated docks reaches 26 tons per square meter. The Port Authority’s future plan includes rehabilitating four additional docks, with Dock 17 entering construction soon, while the remaining three are in the study phase.
These achievements reflect Algeria’s firm commitment—under the guidance of President Tebboune—to modernize its transport infrastructure and reinforce its regional leadership and economic sovereignty, standing as a model of national resilience and self-reliance amid growing regional challenges.
