Senegal is set to make waves in the global maritime industry with the development of a state-of-the-art deep-water port in Ndayane. This ambitious project, spearheaded by DP World, aims to alleviate the growing pressure on the Port of Dakar, which is rapidly nearing capacity. With a new access channel and an 89-hectare maritime platform, this port is expected to reshape trade and logistics in West Africa, enhancing Senegal’s role as a key player in global commerce.
Jan De Nul, a world leader in dredging solutions, has been entrusted with the monumental task of dredging the five-kilometer access channel. This involves the removal of a staggering ten million cubic meters of soil, a challenge made even tougher by the hard rock seabed and the unpredictable conditions of the Atlantic Ocean. To tackle this, Jan De Nul is deploying its most powerful cutter suction dredger, the Willem Van Rubroeck, a vessel built specifically to handle such extreme conditions.
According to Dominique Bombaert, Area Manager for Senegal at Jan De Nul, this project is anything but straightforward. “This is no easy task, as the seabed in the channel consists mainly of hard rock and the conditions in the Atlantic Ocean can be rough. You need a powerful dredger that is also large enough to continue working in challenging wave conditions.”
Once completed, the Ndayane port will be capable of accommodating two of the world’s largest container ships simultaneously. This will not only ease congestion at Dakar but also position Senegal as a major gateway for trade in the region. The port’s design takes climate resilience into account, ensuring it remains a viable hub for global shipping in the decades to come.
Beyond improving logistics, the port is expected to be a catalyst for economic growth, generating thousands of jobs and attracting new investments. With global trade constantly evolving, modern and accessible ports are becoming more critical than ever. Senegal’s new deep-water port is a testament to the country’s commitment to staying ahead in the fast-paced world of maritime logistics.
