Ain Sokhna Port Wins Record for Deepest Man-Made Port Basin

Ain Sokhna Port has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the deepest man-made port basin constructed on land at 19 metres. The Ministry of Industry and Transport stated that Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir received the certificate, describing the recognition as reflecting recent expansion works at the Red Sea port within the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The ministry outlined ongoing development plans at Ain Sokhna that include excavating five additional port basins, each with a depth of 19 metres, for a total excavation volume of 120 million cubic metres. Dredging operations are underway, with planned dredging volumes reduced from an initial 70 million cubic metres by 25 million cubic metres after technical reviews. The port has been connected to a multimodal transport network through a 30 kilometre internal railway system linking it to national rail lines, road networks, dry ports, and logistics zones. As part of Egypt’s Vision 2030 transport strategy, the government plans to construct 70 kilometres of new quays with depths ranging from 18 to 25 metres, taking total quay length across Egyptian seaports to more than 100 kilometres. The strategy also targets expanding the national maritime fleet to 40 vessels capable of transporting up to 25 million tonnes of cargo annually. Egypt’s wider port infrastructure programme includes the entry into service at Alexandria Port of a second floating storage and regasification unit, Energos Power, with a liquefied natural gas storage capacity of 174,000 cubic metres under a lease with United States-based New Fortress Energy. The Egyptian Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport also signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi Ports Group to develop logistics areas at Alexandria Port, including storage, customs warehousing, and re-export services.

At Ain Sokhna and Dekheila ports, Egypt has partnered with CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, and Hutchison Ports in projects valued at USD 1.6 billion to build, operate, and manage container terminals. Dubai-based DP World is operating three major projects at Ain Sokhna Port, with the first phase of its logistics zone completed earlier this year.