Safety Link for Shipping and Trade, a prominent player in the Egyptian shipping industry, has secured a contract to manage and operate Ameria Dry Port in Alexandria. The port, owned by the National Service Projects Organization, is strategically located in the Ameria area of Alexandria, near the bustling Alexandria Port and Dekheila Port. This new venture marks a significant milestone for Safety Link, which has been expanding its expertise in customs clearance, multimodal international shipping, and logistics services.
Ameria Dry Port serves as an inland extension of Alexandria's seaports, offering a range of services beyond container storage and cargo handling. The port operates as a logistics distribution centre for inbound, outbound, and transit cargo, helping to alleviate pressure on maritime berths. With a total area of approximately 34.82 feddans, the port is well-connected to major road corridors linking Alexandria with the Delta region and Cairo, making it an attractive hub for importers and exporters.
The port boasts an impressive infrastructure, featuring a 75,000-square-metre container yard built on a 32-centimetre-thick concrete slab, with a capacity to handle up to 3,086 40-foot-equivalent containers. Additionally, the port has a customs zone, a reefer yard with 826 refrigerated plugs operating around the clock, and pre-trip inspection (PTI) services. The company plans to increase the number of available plugs to 400 within two weeks, as part of its operating plan.
The port's facilities also include a refrigerated complex with a capacity of 10,000 tonnes, comprising four refrigerated warehouses, each containing four rooms with a capacity of 560 cells, as well as blast-freezing capabilities reaching temperatures of -23°C. Two bonded dry warehouses, each covering 1,150 square metres, and a covered vehicle storage area capable of accommodating approximately 600 vehicles within the customs zone, further enhance the port's capabilities.
Wafaa Ibrahim, Partner and Co-Founder of Safety Link and General Manager of the Ameria Dry Port, emphasized that the presence of relevant authorities within the port, including customs, the Nafeza platform, the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), and banks, provides an integrated system for completing procedures at a single location. This streamlined approach is expected to attract importers and exporters of refrigerated and frozen goods, as well as shipping lines and their agents, freight forwarders, customs brokers, vehicle agents, factories, and wholesalers.
Safety Link aims to increase the operational capacity of refrigerated plugs from 138 to 400 during the first weeks of operation, eventually reaching the full capacity of 826 plugs, alongside the operation of the refrigerated complex. The company also plans to offer value-added services such as repacking, inspection, and examination inside bonded warehouses, in addition to connecting the port with land transportation services to Cairo and the Delta region.
As the port enters its trial operation phase, Safety Link is inviting shipping lines, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters to cooperate with the project during the coming period. The company is also exploring the integration of solar energy into its sustainability plans, particularly in light of the significant electricity consumption required to operate the refrigeration system. With its comprehensive facilities and strategic location, Ameria Dry Port is poised to become a major player in Egypt's logistics and shipping industry.
Key points
- Safety Link has won a contract to manage and operate Ameria Dry Port in Alexandria, owned by the National Service Projects Organization.
- The port serves as an inland extension of Alexandria's seaports, offering a range of services beyond container storage and cargo handling.
- Safety Link aims to increase the operational capacity of refrigerated plugs and offer value-added services at the port.
