Congo Terminal is continuing construction of the East Quay at the Port of Pointe-Noire, with operations scheduled to start in the first half of 2027. The 27-hectare facility will add container-handling capacity and use fully electric cargo-handling equipment.

East Quay targets larger container vessels

Congo Terminal began construction of the East Quay in 2024 as part of its investment programme to adapt Pointe-Noire’s infrastructure to changes in maritime transport and growing containerised freight flows.

The terminal will have a 17-metre draught, allowing it to handle container ships of up to 400 metres in length and 24,000 TEU. The specifications are designed for the larger vessels operating on major international shipping routes.

The terminal will use ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes (e-RTGs) and electric harbour tractors. The configuration is intended to reduce direct emissions from cargo-handling operations compared with equivalent equipment powered by internal combustion engines.

For shipping lines and cargo owners, the immediate operational issue is additional handling capacity at Pointe-Noire. The project is expected to increase the terminal’s operational capacity and support the logistics requirements of importers, exporters and other customers using the port. The source does not provide a quantified forecast for additional TEU capacity, vessel turnaround times or logistics cost reductions.

Port of Pointe-Noire combines capacity and electrification

The East Quay will cover 27 hectares and include systems for water and resource management. The administrative building will have a solar hot-water system and equipment allowing the reuse of certain water. Water collected on the site will be treated before discharge.

Energy and water consumption were incorporated into the project design. The administrative building was also designed to meet EDGE Advanced certification criteria, with the assessment currently underway.

Congo Terminal has handled more than 1 million TEU per year since 2022. The operator employs nearly 900 Congolese staff and uses the Navis 4 terminal operating system.

Why it matters

• More vessel capacity: the 17-metre draught and 24,000-TEU design allow Pointe-Noire to accommodate larger container ships.
• Additional handling capacity: the East Quay is intended to increase operational capacity as containerised freight flows grow.
• Electric equipment: STS cranes, e-RTGs and electric tractors will replace conventional thermal equipment for terminal handling operations.

A project to monitor for Central African logistics

Pointe-Noire is an important maritime gateway for supply chains serving the Congolese market and the wider Central African logistics environment. Increasing container-handling capacity can affect the ability of shipping lines and cargo owners to manage growing volumes through the port.

The East Quay also reflects a wider shift in African port investment: infrastructure expansion is increasingly being combined with equipment upgrades and measures aimed at reducing the direct environmental footprint of terminal operations.

The Port of Pointe-Noire is set to add container-handling capacity when the East Quay enters service in 2027. With a 17-metre draught, capacity for vessels of up to 24,000 TEU and fully electric handling equipment, the project will add a new operational component to Congo’s maritime logistics infrastructure.