Strategic partnership enhances maritime services at Nador West Med

Morocco’s port sector is on the cusp of significant transformation with a strategic partnership aimed at improving maritime services at the Mediterranean port of Nador West Med. The consortium formed by Marsa Maroc and Boluda Towage France has secured a 20-year authorization to provide towage and assistance services following an international tender initiated by Nador West Med (NWM).

Operations are set to commence in the last quarter of 2026. This partnership will establish a joint subsidiary responsible for managing operations and making necessary investments. These investments include the acquisition of four tugboats, each boasting an 80-ton traction capacity, with a total expenditure of approximately MAD 488.25 million ($48.83 million).

The capital structure of the new subsidiary will allocate a 51% stake to Boluda Towage France and 49% to Marsa Maroc, according to the announcement.

“This partnership will allow Marsa Maroc to structure its Towage Business Unit, which has been created to leverage specific expertise in this area and develop it into a recognized field of competence,” stated the company’s communication.

Currently, Marsa Maroc’s Towage Business Unit provides maritime services across seven Moroccan ports, including Nador, Al Hoceima, Mohammedia, Safi, Agadir, Laayoune, and Dakhla.

Marsa Maroc, the leading entity in port terminal management in Morocco, operates 25 terminals across 11 ports, handling a total traffic exceeding 60 million tons. The company is listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange, with Tanger Med Group serving as its reference shareholder.

Boluda Towage France is a subsidiary of Boluda Corporación Marítima, the world’s foremost maritime services provider, operating over 400 vessels in approximately 50 countries and 100 ports globally.

This new contract aligns with Marsa Maroc’s strategic vision to fortify its position in the Mediterranean while establishing itself as an integrated partner in port, maritime, and logistics services on an international scale.

In parallel, Marsa Maroc is preparing to manage its upcoming West Container Terminal at the Nador West Med port. The company plans to engage technical expertise this April to support management consulting for the new facility.

The consultant will assist Marsa Maroc in setting up project management frameworks that encompass deliverables, planning, budgeting, quality, communications, risk management, and procurement.

For the West Container Terminal, Marsa Maroc and its partners intend to invest around MAD 3.04 billion ($304 million) for the initial phase, with operations anticipated to start in 2027. The terminal is designed to feature 1,440 linear meters of quay at an 18-meter depth, split into two sections: 900 meters for container activity and 540 meters for handling various goods.

The facility will cover 60 hectares and include eight ship-to-shore cranes, 24 rubber-tired gantry cranes, and four state-of-the-art mobile cranes. This new concession will elevate Marsa Maroc’s container handling capacity to 9 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), with nearly 7 million TEU allocated for container transshipment.