The port of Nouakchott enjoys a preferential location that qualifies it to play a major role in international trade
This port constitutes the backbone of economic life, as its movement witnessed a steady rise since the start of its activity in 1986, rising from less than 400,000 tons in 1987 to 3 675 814 tons in 2016, t an average rate of more than +9.52% annually.
As for container transport, it increased from 56,448 twenty-foot equivalent containers in 1988 to approximately 134,413 twenty-foot equivalent containers in 2016, which corresponds to an average growth of +12.5% annually.
The new berth centers are 450m long and 69m wide on Ro-Ro ramps with a width of 40m. The southern façade is also prepared to receive oil tankers of up to 40,000 tons. However, the installation of equipment to transfer oil from tankers to reservoirs - which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Petroleum - delays the exploitation of this interface.
Thus, the port of Nouakchott now has three berthing centers on the dredged beach at a depth of -12m that can receive ships carrying containers of the third generation and tanks ranging between 35,000 and 40,000 tons (heavy cargo) and a floating dock for heavy cargo ships of less than 10,000 tons. Which raises the number of centers to 7 instead of 3 previously.
The choice of the location of the extension quay led inexorably to the dismantling of the old oil tanker anchorage located in the port basin. Before doing so, the construction of a replacement structure was started, thus the berth could accommodate oil and gas tankers of 10,000 DWT was put into service in January 2012.
Since this oil berth has its back to the old bridge, it is equipped with various equipment For the security required by this type of very sensitive facility, it has a sink Dredged to a depth of 9.5 metres.
Toujours dans le même ordre d’idées, les études pour la construction à moyen terme d’un terminal à conteneurs sont achevées.
In order to ensure the continuation of the exploitation of the historical facilities (berth centers 1, 2, and 3), important works were carried out to restore and modernize the protection of their foundations and bases with steel columns and reinforced concrete, with self-financing in 2011 and 2013.
In December 2015, the works that began on November 27, 2014 were completed for the construction of a barrier to protect the water inlets and the port basin from sand sedimentation, as well as the dredging works.
