- Port Overview
- Port Picture
- Description and Contacts of Key Companies
- Port Performance
- Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges
- Berthing Specifications
- General Cargo Handling Berths
- Port Handling Equipment
- Container Facilities
- Customs Guidance
- Terminal Information
- Stevedoring
- Hinterland Information
- Port Security
Port Overview
(Source: General Admin for Planning & Research / Statistics and Information centre)
Port Sudan is the capital of the Red Sea State and the Republic of Sudan’s main sea port. It is situated on latitude (19 ` 39) north and longitude (73 ` 13) east on the middle of the Red Sea coast and was established in 1910. It occupies a strategic location in the centre of the west coast of the Red Sea about 1200 km northeast Khartoum and about 260 km southwest Jeddah (in Saudi Arabia Kingdom). Port Sudan is mainly handling general cargo, livestock, cement, containers, oil products, grains, pesticides and cars.
The Sea Ports Corporation (SPC) is an independent state corporation of Sudan that governs, constructs, and maintains the ports, harbours and lighthouses of Sudan. The company was founded in 1974 by the government of Sudan to be the national port operator and port authority. The Ports of Sudan fall under the Ministry of Transport, Roads and Bridges.
Website: www.mot.gov.sd
Port website: www.sudanports.gov.sd
Key port information may also be found at http://www.maritime-database.com
PORT LOCATION & CONTACT |
|
Country: |
Sudan |
Province or District: |
Red Sea State |
Nearest Town or City: |
Port Sudan - 2 km |
Port's Complete Name: |
Port Sudan Port |
Latitude: |
19 º 36’ 57” N |
Longitude: |
27 º 13’ 28” E |
Managing Company or Port Authority: |
Sea Ports Corporation, PO Box 531, Port Sudan Quays, Port Sudan, Republic of Sudan |
Management Contact Person: |
Mr. Jalal Eldin. M.A. Shelia (General Manager) Tel: +249912308514 Email: spcp@sudanmail.net |
Nearest Airport and Airlines: |
Port Sudan International Airport: Badr Airlines, Flydubai, Nile Air Cairo, Tarco Airlines, Sudan Airways, SAUDIA |
Port Picture
Port Sudan is divided into four components. The North Port B quays include 12 berths of a total 1866 meters long with alongside depths from 8.5 to 10.7 meters, handling primarily general cargo, edible oils, and molasses. The five berths that handle general cargo and molasses are a total of 822 meters long with alongside depths from 8.5 to 10.7 meters. Four berths of 365.7 meters with alongside depth of 10.7 meters handle general cargo and edible oils.
Port Sudan Harbor consists of:
- The North Port, which is the oldest Port, consisting of 12 berths with depths between 8.5 meters and 10.7 meters allocated for general cargo, bulk cement, edible oils, and molasses.
- The South Port consists of 6 berths, berth #15 for the handling of grains and general cargo, berths 13 through to 18 for containerised traffic.
- The Green Port consists of 4 berths with a total lengths of 1226 meters and a depth of 14.7 meters. It is equipped with services for dry bulk cargo and it is able to accommodate vessels up to 50,000 DWT
- The Alkhair (Dama Dama) oil terminal can receive tankers up to 50,000 DWT with a draft of 14.6 meters
Berth Number |
Length / meter |
Draft / meter |
Purpose |
1-2-3-4-5 |
597 |
8.5 |
General cargo, molasses, bulk cement |
5 A |
229.8 |
9.5 |
Molasses, cement, general cargo |
6 – 7 |
365.7 |
10.7 |
Bulk cement, general cargo |
8 – 9 |
365.7 |
10.7 |
Edible oils, general cargo |
11 |
106.7 |
8.5 |
General cargo, bulk cement |
12 |
201.8 |
8.5 |
General cargo, bulk cement |
Description and Contacts of Key Companies
The main company at the port is the Sea Port Corporation, which is the national port operator and authority.
Port Performance
The Port is designed and has the capacity to handle Panamax size bulk carriers.
Performance: Year 2017 |
|
Vessels Calls |
638 |
Container traffic (TEU’s) |
487,336 |
Total Cargo Handling (mt) |
11,877,745 |
Total Annual Capacity of the Port |
Port capacity (containers): 1,200,000 Metric Tons Port capacity (break bulk): 5,000,000 Metric Tons Port capacity (dry bulk): 4,000,000 Metric Tons Port capacity (liquid bulk): 3,000,000 Metric Tons |
Vessels calls have decreased by only 15.5% from 755 calls in 2014 to 638 calls in 2017.
Import traffic has increased by 60% from 6 Million tons in 2014 to 9.6 Million tons in 2017.
Exports have increased by 532% from 350,409 tons in 2014 to 2,215,005 tons in 2017.
Capacity: Year 2017 |
Bulk (Incl Petroleum) |
Container |
Conventional |
MT |
TEU’s |
MT |
|
Export activity of the Port |
zero |
234,953 |
433,781 |
Import activity of the port |
5,200,851 |
252,383 |
1,563,479 |
SEASONAL CONSTRAINTS |
||
|
Yes / No |
From <month> to <month> |
Rainy Season |
YES |
October - December |
Major Import Campaigns |
NO |
|
Other |
NO |
|
Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges
Link to relevant tariff/rates webpage: www.sudanports.gov.sd
The cargo handling and discharge rates at the Port of Sudan are:
Bagged cargo |
2500 MT/wwd |
Bulk cargo, grain bulk via Hoppers then bagged on the quayside |
2500 MT/wwd |
Bulk discharge via Hooper, Hal to Sayga Silo in bulk trucks (4 gangs) |
9600 MT/wwd |
Silo – Discharge direct to Silo (berth 15) |
4800 MT/wwd |
Vehicles per hour, provided units are mobile |
150-200 unit/hour |
Containers |
20 lifts per gantry per hour |
General cargo |
based on type of the cargo / position of stowage / vessel crane capacity |
The discharge rates are based on the working norms of the Port and are not those negotiated by World Food Programme.
Shifts per day 7 hours per shift normal working 6 hours
(1hrs break each shift) Working hours Saturday/Thursday
1st shift 0730 – 1430
2nd shift 1530 - 2230
3rd shift 2330 - 0530 (Overtime)
Friday and gazette official holiday port operates on an overtime basis
1st shift 0730 - 1200
2nd shift 1530 - 2230
3rd shift 2330 – 0530
Berthing Specifications
Berthing Specifications |
|||
Total Berths |
Quantity |
Length (m) |
Draft (m) |
Conventional Berths |
9 |
1556 meters |
Berth 1-5 = 8.5 meters draft, Berth 5A 9.5 meters, Berths 6-9 =10.7 meters. |
Container Berths |
5 |
933 meters |
Berths 13-14 = 16 meters , Berth 17-18 12.6 meters draft |
Bulk Oil Jetties |
1 |
310 meters |
14.6 meters |
Cased Oil Jetties |
2 |
|
|
Bulk Cement Berths |
2 |
208 meters |
Berth 11= 8.7 meters draft, Berth 12 = 10 meters draft |
Lighter age and Dhow (other) Wharves |
Nil |
n/a |
n/a |
Explosives Jetty |
Nil |
|
|
Berthing Tugs and Mooring Boats |
6 Tugs and 4 mooring boats |
|
|
Pilot Boats |
4 |
||
Water Barges |
14 – 40 MT Capacity |
||
Police Boats |
Yes. |
||
Anti-pollution Boats |
Yes (Tugs and Mooring Boats ) |
||
Speed Boats |
Yes |
The two Port Sudan berths handling bulk cement in the North quays are 98.3 meters long with alongside depth of 8.7 meters. The North quays have 27 stores covering 57, 000 M2, designed to handle up to five million tons of cargo per year. The North quays also include two berths of 122 meters with alongside depth of 6.1 meters for barges used to export livestock.
North Quay |
|||
Berth Number |
Length / meter |
Draft / meter |
Purpose |
1-2-3-4-5 |
597 |
8.5 |
General cargo, molasses, bulk cement |
5 A |
229.8 |
9.5 |
Molasses, cement, general cargo |
6 – 7 |
365.7 |
10.7 |
Bulk cement, general cargo |
8 – 9 |
365.7 |
10.7 |
Edible oils, general cargo |
11 |
106.7 |
8.5 |
General cargo, bulk cement |
12 |
201.8 |
8.5 |
General cargo, bulk cement |
General Cargo Handling Berths
General Cargo – Imports |
Berths |
Imports – Bagged Cargo |
1-14 and 15 |
Exports – Bagged Cargo |
1-14 and 15 |
Imports – Steel Goods |
1-14 and 15 |
Imports and Exports – Ro-Ro |
16 |
Imports – Vehicles |
4 and 5 |
Others Imports |
A suitable berth will be allocated based on cargo characteristics, vessels configuration and draft. |
Port Handling Equipment
A private company, the Sea Ports Corporation (SPC), manages the port equipment. The SPC is an independent state corporation of Sudan that governs & maintains the ports and the harbours. The Port handling equipment is generally in good condition, but the fixed general cargo “Luffing” cranes with a capacity between 5 and 15 metric tons are in poor condition.
It is a prerequisite by the Port Sudan authorities that Vessels to load and/or discharge bulk – general cargoes over the quay must be ‘geared’.
Port Cargo Handling Equipment (Operational) |
||
Appliance |
Quantity |
Capacity |
Quay Cranes – Travelling |
27 |
5-15 Metric tons |
Mobile Cranes |
11 |
20 - 70 Metric tons |
Mobile Quay Cranes |
2 |
63 - 120 Metric tons |
Aria Cranes |
2 |
5 Metric tons |
Tractor |
1 |
35 Metric tons |
Fork Lifts |
30 |
3 - 35 Metric tons |
Gantry Cranes (STS) |
8 |
40-65 Metric tons |
Rubber Tired Gantry Cranes/RTG |
23 |
40 Metric tons |
Tug Master |
5 |
50 - 75 Metric tons |
Tug masters |
17 |
50 Metric tons |
Trucks Tractors |
10 |
50 Metric tons |
Hired trucks |
45 |
50 Metric tons |
Trailers |
45 |
40 - 50 Metric tons |
Trailers |
46 |
15 - 20 Metric tons |
Shunter |
3 |
35 Metric tons |
Polling Trucks |
13 |
45 Metric tons |
Lifting equipment for stripping containers / Forklifts |
10 |
3 Metric tons |
Reach Stacker |
22 |
35 Metric tons |
Reach Stacker |
22 |
8 - 15 Metric tons |
Trucks Tractors |
10 |
50 Metric tons |
Fire Engines |
Yes |
|
Container Facilities
Reefer slots are available, in the past years the average number of reefer units that have passed through the Port Sudan amounted to an average of 300 TEUs per year. Reefer capability was not surveyed and/or linked to the cold chain.
Container Facilities |
20ft (TEU’s) |
40ft (FEU’s) |
Container Facilities |
Yes |
Yes |
Daily off-take capacity; |
250/300 TEU / day |
|
Container Freight Stations (CFS) |
Yes within the Container terminal |
Yes within the Container terminal |
Number of CFS |
One within the Port area |
One within the Port area |
Capacity of CFS |
300 |
150 |
Refrigerated Container Stations |
Yes |
Yes |
Number of Reefer Stations (connection points) |
226++ |
113++ |
Customs Guidance
To clear import cargo for consumption within Sudan, nominated clearing agents are also tasked to clear cargo in transit consigned to Chad and neighbouring countries (Ethiopia, ROSS) subject to the established customs rules & regulations and border formalities.
For information on customs, please see the following link: 1.3 Sudan Customs Information
Terminal Information
Multipurpose Terminal
The Multi-purpose terminal at the North Quay is able to handle all types of cargo subject to the vessels general configuration and draft. The discharge and/or delivery to/from Ship’s side requires pre-planning to avoid delays.
The shore luffing cranes (capacity 5 to 15 tons) are however in poor mechanical repair hence the Port Authorities require that vessels arriving at Port Sudan be suitably geared with cranes and/or derricks. Shore winch men are available.
Oil Handling Terminal - the Elkhair (Dama Dama) oil terminal can receive tankers up to 50,000 DWT with a draft of 14.5 metres. In 2017, 77 vessels used the berth, and 2,222,591 metric tons of petroleum products were imported. There were no petroleum products exported in 2017. Last petroleum exports were done in 2014.
Grain and Bulk Handling
There are five vertical silo and one horizontal silo operators within the port as follows;
- 50,000 MT capacity situated at Berth 15 - owned/operated by the Agricultural Bank of Sudan. Facility is mainly used for Sorghum exports.
- 60,000 MT silo capacity at Green Port area operated by WITA. WITA also has another 70,000 mt silo capacity 3km outside of port.
- 90,000 MT silo capacity at the Green Port area operated by SEEN Flour Mills.
- 76,000 MT silo capacity at the Green Port area owned by ALKHALEEJ but operated by SEEN.
- 140,000 MT silo capacity at the Green Port area owned/operated by DAL Foods/Sayga Flour Mills.
- 50,000 MT horizontal silo capacity at the North Quay operated by SEAGRAINS.
In total, the silo capacity at PORT SUDAN is 536,000 MT.
The method of discharge to these silo facilities is from ship’s holds with grabs or Pneumatic Buhler evacuators onto hoppers, into bulk trucks which transport and dump the bulk to the respective facility repeatedly. The daily discharge rate can get to 12,000 metric tons pwwd using Ship’s gear with four gangs.
Most of the silo operators subsequently deliver the cargo bulk to up country mills except Sayga that has a bagging option. The daily bagging rate basis 16 working hours is around 2000 metric tons.
The silo facilities have a rail connection and there is ongoing works to extend the rail to the quayside of the Green port berths.
Bagging – Grain Handling
There are two main international bagging operators operating from Port Sudan (PORTSERVE & IMGS) through local partners. These provide the conventional discharge/bagging services alongside ship using bagging plants each having two bagging lines, with sewing machines, scales and escalators to move the bags to landside stowage and/or transport. The mobile bagging machines are also hired out to the vertical or horizontal silo operators whenever they would require to deliver cargo bagged.
Discharge is mainly using ship gear, ship/own grabs and port labour. Four gangs are usually allocated to a vessel and the daily discharge is around 2500 to 3000 MT/wwd. Usually crane operators, supervisors, labour on the bagging plant, and a mechanical/electrical engineer are on standby at the vessel.
Conventional Cargo
The general cargo terminals are situated at the North Port and Green Port. These facilities are able to handle general cargo, unitised cargo, bagged, bulk, vehicles, project and heavy lift/out of gauge traffic. Cargo is discharged from ship’s holds using slings and nets by ship/shore cranes and onto the quayside from where the port labor loads it to trucks/wagons for delivery. There are also several warehouses alongside the berths that have been leased out.
Containerised Cargo (THC)
The South Port consists of six berths. Berths 13 to 18 are used for containerised cargos while berth 15 is a bulk silo loading/discharge facility.
Containers are unloaded from ships using STS gantry cranes onto terminal tractors which transfer them for stacking within the terminal. Delivery from the terminal is by RTG onto trucks that transfer containers from terminal to the customs inspection area. Lift off/on at the customs inspection area is Reach Stackers. After inspection the containers are either loaded on to trucks full or de-stuffed and shifted to the storage area doe empties.
Main Storage Terminal
Port Storage – Managed by Sea Port Corporation of Sudan |
||
Total floor space |
Quantity |
Floor area (m²) |
Main Quay Transit Sheds |
27 |
57,000 m² |
Back of Port Transit Sheds |
2 |
3,000 m² |
Lighterage Area Transit Sheds |
There are limited designated lighter age Quays or Sheds within the Port Area. The general port shed and open squares are used, if required.
|
The North quay has two berths of 122 meters with alongside depth of 6.1 meters for barges used to export livestock. |
Customs Warehouses |
The Port area is ‘Bonded’, no cargo may move in or out of the port without customs clearance. There are no reserved customs shed, the exception being the LCL sheds (6000 m²) in the South Port Container Terminal Area. |
As per Port Transit Sheds. |
Stevedoring
Labour working inside the ship and for stacking cargo on trucks is engaged and paid for by the ship agent, clearing agent or transporter. Port labour however handle cargo at the quayside. The wages paid to shore side labour is negotiated with the Unions and tariffs are calculated based on cargo configuration.
Hinterland Information
Commodities are moved out of the port by rail or road. Delivery is mostly through primary transporters, local shunting and direct deliveries to the main hubs. Direct deliveries have been performed to Khartoum, El Obeid, Fasher, Nyala and Kosti. Direct deliveries from Port Sudan Warehouse to minor hubs like Damazine, Kasalla etc are also possible.
Port Security
The Port is ISPS compliant. All entry points are secured, manned by Port Police and Customs Officers and access is subject to permits (usually given within one day by the Port Sudan Authorities after presentation of original identification documents and letter of request).
Security |
|
ISPS Compliant |
Yes |
ISPS Level (current) |
1 (Normal) |
The fenced and secured port area is ‘customs bonded’: no cargo may enter or leave the port area without the requisite customs and associated documentation being completed and approved through the Customs Controls.
The ships in the port have their own security and ‘gangway watch’.
In addition, there are two secondary/tertiary Sudanese Ports on the Red Sea that function as alternative port gateways to the Republic of Sudan, these are Osman Digna port at Sawakin (South of Port Sudan) and Bashair port.