Nador West Med container terminal nears launch in Morocco

Morocco’s Nador West Med has moved its eastern container terminal to operational readiness after the West Med Container Terminal (WMCT) completed live trials, clearing the facility to receive its first commercial vessel calls.

WMCT is owned by Marsa Maroc and MSC’s terminal arm Terminal Investment Limited (TIL). Marsa Maroc holds 50% plus one share, while TIL holds 50% minus one share.

© Nador West Med

The operator used the MSC Nita for a test call, testing the terminal’s equipment, systems, and operating processes under live conditions ahead of commercial operations.

The East Terminal has 1,520 metres of quay, an 18-metre draft, and 70 hectares of container yard. Its planned capacity is 3.4 million TEU, and the infrastructure is designed to accommodate large containerships.

Marsa Maroc had previously targeted the fourth quarter of 2026 for commissioning of the first phase. Completion of the operational trials indicates that the new terminal capacity is approaching commercial operation.

The terminal expands Marsa Maroc’s presence in Mediterranean transshipment beyond its existing operations at Tanger Med, while providing MSC and TIL with terminal capacity at the Nador West Med hub.