Port Overview

The port of Gabès is located in the middle of the Gulf of Gabès which is bounded to the north by the archipelago and the shallows of Kerkennah and to the west and south by the continent. Located on a sandy coast in an area where the seabed is gently sloping, it provides 19% of the country's trade with the transport of a total of around 4.5 million tons of goods par year. Almost 90% of traffic relates to the chemical industries (chemicals, phosphates, bitumen, metals, etc.).  The activity of the commercial port of Gabès is characterized by an industrial purpose, is essentially intended for the transit of chemical products on behalf of the neighboring factories set up in the industrial estate of Gabès. This bulk traffic comprises above all sulphur and ammonia for import and phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizer for export. The bulk traffic at the Gabès port consists mainly of sulfur and ammonia in the import of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers in export. The port of Gabès was built in 1974 and is equipped for the reception of fuel oil, bitumen, liquid soda, sulfur and for the shipment of sulfuric and phosphoric acids, as well as for the traffic of sacks and miscellaneous goods. It includes the facilities required for the unloading of ammonia and a solid bulk loader (CJB / EAM, 2007). 

Nautical data

Approach: Via an access channel 3220 m long, 130 m wide and with a draft of - 13.50 m. Signed by 9 buoys.

Via the dredged entry pass at - 12.50 m and 200 m wide, marked with 2 buoys. 

La Houle: East / North East

Tides: Semi-diurnal, regular, the tide reaches 2.45 meters.

• M.V.E: 2.45m
• M.M.E: -1.60m
• M.M.E: -1.10m
• M.V.E: 0.15m 

The currents: without influence. 

Dominant Winds: Winds of land, in winter, from the West and North / West sector. Winds by the sea, in summer, from East, South-East. The strength varies from 3 to 5 (sometimes 7) on the BEAUFORT scale. 

Road access: The port is served from the North and the South by the RN1, to the West the RN5 and the RN6 connect it to Gafsa and Kebili. Two main doors provide access to the port, and seven secondary doors provide access to nearby factories. 

Rail access: The SNCFT North-South line ends at Gabès. This same line is connected to that of Sfax-Gafsa. The grain station is served by a railway. See map of the current situation of the Gabès Commercial Port in the appendix Link  

Port website: PORT WEBSITE 

Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com

Port Picture

Gabès Port Layout 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

Port dues on ships, goods and passengers received by the OMMP are attuned to the changes and developments experienced by the port operation mode and Transport Technology and adapted to the needs of port operators. As part of the reform of the shipping industry, particularly in the port sector, which started from the ninth development plan, several actions were taken to adapt the sector to the various technological, regulatory and organizational regionally and world. For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link: PORT COMPANIES CONTACT LIST.

Port Performance

The port of Gabès is an industrial port in Tunisia with more than 160,000 TEUs and nearly 4,300,000 tons of general cargo in 2019. This bulk traffic consists mainly of sulfur and ammonia in the import of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers in export. The commercial port of Gabès, whose activity is characterized by an industrial vocation, essentially ensures the transit of chemicals on behalf of neighboring factories located in the industrial zone of Gabès. This bulk traffic mainly consists of sulfur and ammonia on import and phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers on export. In 2019, freight traffic was 4,224,000 tons, international traffic amounted to 4,048,000 tons and national cabotage to 9,000 tons. The ships amounted to 1223. Regarding the strengthening of its role in supporting and promoting local industries, the master plan established for the development of Gabès port recommends building an oil post as well as a post n ° 11. Maintenance work is also planned for all basins and access canals.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

The harbour dues on ships, goods and passengers collected by the OMMP fall in with the changes and developments gone through by the port running system and transport technologies and are adapted to the expectations of the port operators. The most recent of these actions bears on the launching of a study on the restructuring of harbour dues and price scales, taking into account the new attributions of the OMMP as ancient authority and the role it is called upon to play within the framework of the concession agreements on the public port domain, offering to public users and other private operators the possibility to build harbour works or to use private material for providing public services.

Details OMMP - Port of Gabès

Link of Searates 

Berthing Specifications

• West quay posts 5, 6 and 7 with a total length of 600 m with a depth of - 10.50 m Hydro.
• North platform posts 3 and 4 with a total length of 340 m with a depth of - 10.50 m Hydro.
• South quay substations 8, 9 and 10 with a total length of 785 m with a depth of - 11.5 m Hydro.
• Service dock of length 139 ml with a depth of -5.00m.
• The Gabès commercial port offers a quay line with a total length of 1,725 ​​m.

General Cargo Handling Berths

Port Handling Equipment

Container Facilities

The harbor water area (80 ha) in 2 basins

• An outdoor pool of 50 ha, at -12.5 m.
• An indoor pool of 30 ha, at -10.5 m.
• The swing circle has a diameter of 600 meters.

Customs Guidance

Customs clearance consists of presenting the goods at a Customs office and allocating them a Customs system. On reaching Customs, goods are automatically sorted by the SINDA (Automated Customs Information System) according to certain criteria, especially the nature of the product and the importer. The sorting leads to a system of channels: the "green channel" for goods which present no risk (brief inspection of the documents), the "orange channel" for medium level risks (normal inspection), the "red channel" for extreme risks (complete inspection). The inspection may consist of x-raying the whole container, but also x-raying or opening each package. When they have been inspected, the goods receive a temporary collection permit which allows them to be stocked for further inspection or a permit for clearance inward.

Terminal Information

Grain and Bulk Handling

• Basins: The harbor water area (80 ha) in 2 basins
• An outdoor pool of 50 ha, at -12.5 m.
• An indoor pool of 30 ha, at -10.5 m.
• The swing circle has a diameter of 600 meters

Main Storage Terminal

• Fitted ground: 25,000 m²
• Bare land: 100,000 m²
• Store and covered shed: 4000 m²

Stevedoring

OMMP performs all stevedoring activities which consist of the loading and unloading of ships and the performance of various tasks required when the vessel is in port, including lashing and unlashing of cargo.

Maritime ports Code in Tunisia (French version only).

Hinterland Information

The Port of Gabès is connected to the hinterland and the region's industrial estates by the MC33 highway. The container terminal and specialized berths are also linked to the rail network by both metric and normal tracks. Goods are transported out of the port by trucks. Most trucking companies are members of the Port “Office de la Marine Marchande et des Port (OMMP) and all trucking companies operating at the port must be registered with the Shipping Association of Tunisia (AMT). There are also vessels that depart from Tunisian ports and travel coastwise east to Asian countries crossing Suez Canal that transport cargo to that region of the North African and Middle east. Most others are travelling out of Mediterranean Sea to Atlantic Ocean.

Port Security

Protective structures

• A 2880 m long North pier protects the port against the waves by the prevailing north and north / east winds.
• A 1460 m long South pier completes protection against East and South / East winds.