Doha – The groupement formed by Marsa Maroc and Boluda Towage France has secured the authorization to provide towage and assistance services at the Nador West Med port for 20 years, following an international tender launched by Nador West Med (NWM).
Operations will commence in the last quarter of 2026, with the partnership creating a joint subsidiary to manage operations and handle the necessary investments. These investments include acquiring four tugboats with 80-ton traction capacity at a cost of approximately MAD 488.25 million ($48.83 million).
The capital structure of the new subsidiary will be divided with Boluda Towage France holding a 51% stake and Marsa Maroc the remaining 49%, according to the announcement.
“This partnership will allow Marsa Maroc to structure its Towage Business Unit, created to capitalize on specific expertise in this activity and develop it into a recognized expertise,” states the company’s communication.
Currently, Marsa Maroc’s Towage Business Unit provides maritime services across seven Moroccan ports: Nador, Al Hoceima, Mohammedia, Safi, Agadir, Laayoune, and Dakhla.
Marsa Maroc, the national leader in port terminal management, operates 25 terminals across 11 ports in Morocco, handling total traffic exceeding 60 million tons. The company is listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange, with Tanger Med Group as its reference shareholder.
Boluda Towage France is a subsidiary of Boluda Corporación Marítima, the world’s leading maritime services provider. The Spanish group operates more than 400 vessels in approximately 50 countries and 100 ports worldwide.
This new contract aligns with Marsa Maroc’s strategic vision to strengthen its Mediterranean position while establishing itself as an integrated port, maritime, and logistics partner internationally.
Meanwhile, Marsa Maroc is gearing up to manage its upcoming West Container Terminal at the Nador West Med port. The company is set to bring in technical expertise this April to support management consulting for the new platform.
The expert will assist Marsa Maroc in establishing project management frameworks covering deliverables, planning, budgeting, quality, communications, risk management, and procurement.
For the West Container Terminal, Marsa Maroc and its partners plan to invest around MAD 3.04 billion ($304 million) for the first phase, with operations expected to begin in 2027.
The terminal will feature 1,440 linear meters of quay at 18-meter depth, divided into two sections: 900 meters dedicated to container activity and 540 meters for handling various goods.
The facility will span 60 hectares and be equipped with eight ship-to-shore cranes, 24 rubber-tired gantry cranes, and four latest-generation mobile cranes.
This new concession will increase Marsa Maroc’s container handling capacity to 9 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), with nearly 7 million TEU dedicated to container transshipment.
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