Credit: Jan De Nul
On Friday 21 February 2025, Luxembourg-based civil engineering company, Jan De Nul, announced the construction of a new deep-water port in Dakar, Senegal.
In a statement, Jan De Nul confirmed that, once completed, the new deep-water port will be able to accommodate two of the world's largest container ships simultaneously. The port is expected to help relieve congestion in the Port of Dakar and become a driver of economic growth for Senegal. Jan De Nul is responsible for dredging the access channel and developing an 89-hectare platform for maritime services and container storage.
According to the company, the Port of Dakar is approaching its maximum capacity and the surrounding area is completely saturated. To meet this challenge, DP World, a leading logistics and trade company and current operator of the Dakar container terminal, is developing a new port in Ndayane, located 50 km southeast of the capital. Jan De Nul is responsible for dredging the 5km access channel, requiring the excavation of ten million cubic metres of sediment.
Dominique Bombaert, Area Manager for Senegal at Jan De Nul, said: "This is not an easy task, because the seabed of the channel is mainly made of hard rock and the conditions in the Atlantic Ocean can be harsh. It requires a powerful dredger, large enough to operate even in difficult wave conditions. That is why we are deploying our largest and most powerful dredging vessel, the Willem Van Rubroeck, to carry out this mission."
The dredged sediment will be used to develop an area of 89 hectares, reclaimed from the sea, which will serve as a terminal for container storage and maritime services. This is expected to significantly increase Senegal's container handling capacity. Jan De Nul reported that it had already started dredging the access channel. In total, the work is expected to last two and a half years.
Jan De Nul stated that the planning and execution of the works are being carried out with care, in order to minimise any negative impact on the environment. An environmental impact assessment has been conducted, including research on sensitive areas such as seagrass fields. In addition, the maritime contractor confirmed it is monitoring water quality during the execution of the project and taking into account the presence of marine mammals and turtles.
Jan De Nul added that it is also involved in the construction of a new container quay for the Port of Valencia in Spain, and is participating in the development of a new deep-water port in Georgia.
Dominique Bombaert said: "Jan De Nul positions itself as an expert in water, land and energy, with the main objective of preserving and improving the quality of life of future generations. Accessible and climate-resilient ports are essential to support the global economy. Through this project, we are making a valuable contribution to international trade."
HOM
