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Key port information can also be found at: Website of the Maritime Database on Berbera Port 

Port Overview

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Located Berbera Port is on the south Northern coast of Somalia and is located on the Gulf of Aden along the NW Somali coast - Somaliland/ Galbeed (Saheel) region - about 250 kms east of Djibouti.  The port was built in a natural bay formed by a low-lying sand bar with the entrance to the west. The port was developed by Russian and American aid, and the berths are distinguished between Russian and American wharves. Each one is approximately 325 metres although the Russian portion was built 30 years prior to the American, which was built in 1986.

Berbera, the principal port in the north, is presently the largest operating port of Somalia. The year round port of Berbera is the primary source of revenue for the administration of Somaliland and the largest employer generating direct and indirect employment opportunities (410 permanent employees, about the same number of contractual workers and approximately 900 stevedores and casual workers). Revenue from Customs duties and tariffs from the port consist a major component of the budgetary income of the local administration.
The port contributes to the expansion of regional trade and commerce and the Berbera - Ethiopia corridor represents a major economic generator for Somaliland.

The Berbera port is the entry point for humanitarian aid and commercial cargo for the regional hinterland stretching into Ethiopia. As reported by the Ports Authority, it is estimated that 50% of the cargo is in transit to Ethiopia (30%) and South Somalia (20%), though no official statistics exist. During 2000, the EU imported about 60,000mt through the port of Berbera. (Source FAAco, October 2005).

Livestock is the main export cargo with main destinations being Saudi Arabia, Yemen and UAE. Therefore exports were affected by the Gulf States' livestock import ban of 1998 and 2000 that is still in force. It was reported by the Ports Authority that losses due to year 2000 livestock ban amount to about 60% of revenue, 70% of labour (including casual labour) and 8% of inflation. Livestock market starts in mid/late June and peaks in November/December. Livestock trade contributes 60-65% to the national economy. About 60% of the population' livelihood depends either directly or indirectly on the livestock and its products. Imports through the port of Berbera are destined for Somaliland, Ethiopia, North Eastern Somalia and parts of Southern SomaliaThe Port is owned and operated by the Somaliland authorities. In addition to an oil terminal the facilities can accommodate containers, general cargo, and bulk cargo.

The port foundation is traced back more than a hundred years, and the current place, a linear wharf of 300 meters, was established in 1968 by Soviet Union and expanded to a 350 meters linear wharf in 1984 by United States of America. Since then the port has developed numerous properties as well as constructions. 

The Port's task hasn’t changed over the years but its scope of services has expanded considerably. The port contributed significantly in the development of the Somaliland community.

For more generic information on Berbera Port, please select the following document: Somaliland Berbera Port Additional Information

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

Port website: Website of the Berbera Port

Port Location and Contacts
Country	Berbera, Somalia
Province or District	Galbed, SomalilandBerbera District
Town or City (Closest location) with Distance (km)	Name: Berbera km: n/a(1 km) and Hargeisa (160 km)
Port's Complete Name	n/aBerbera Port
Latitude	10° . 26 North' 00" N
Longitude	45° . 01 East' 00" E
Managing Company or Port Authority (If more than one operator, break down by area of operation)	Berbera Port Authority (Somaliland Government)
Management Contact Person	Eng. Ali Omer Mohamed +2522 444 6093 Bile Hirse Eid +2522 444 6481Berbera port Manager: Ali Omar Mohamed Direct Line +252-63-4446093/42444093 Deputy Port Manager: Omar Abokor Ahmed Direct line: +252-63-4446570/4244054 Info@berberaseaport.net berberaport@gmail.com
Closest Airport and Frequent Airlines to / from International Destinations	Airport Name: n/a Airlines: n/a

Port Picture

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Port Picture

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Description and Contacts of Key Companies

4.2.1 4 Somalia Port and Waterways Company Contact List

For further contacts information on Berbera Port, please select the following document: 

Somaliland Berbera Port Additional Information

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

Port Performance

Linear wharf of 650 metres long, sufficient width, divided into 5 berths of 125 metres each and one ro-ro of 25 metres. Draft ranges from 9 to 12 metres depth and maximum vessel length is approximately 200metres; water level suggests a depth restriction of approximately 18,000 to 20,000 metric tones per ship.

Berth occupancy is approximately 70% although priority berthing can be arranged in case of livestock or humanitarian cargo if requested by consignee. Geared vessels are preferential although mobile cranes are available up to 32 metric tonne capacity max.

There are no bulk facilities available and general cargo daily discharge rate is 1,200 metric tones although possible capacity is 2,300 metric tones per day. Both 20 and 40-foot containers can be discharged with no specific berth assigned. Cargo is generally delivered directly to consignee. Transport upon discharge from the vessel and workers under contract at the port perform stevedoring.

For more information on the port performance of Berbera Port, please select the following document:

Somaliland Berbera Port Additional Information

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

There are no shore cranes at the port; mobile cranes are available for hire at the following charges.
Berbera has handled bulk in the past for EU with destination to Dire Dawa in Ethiopia; discharge was done according to FAAco (under TAFIQ) at a rate of approximately 2,500 metric tonnes per day.

For further information on Discharge Rates and Port Costs, please select the following document:

Somaliland Berbera Port Additional Information

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

Berthing Specifications

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Port Performance

Entry into the harbour is straightforward except during the strong windy conditions that occur frequently during both the NE and SW monsoon periods. These winds tend to blow beam-on to vessels in the approach channel and at the commercial quays. With the lack of tug power to assist in maneuvering, ship safety is not optimal. In addition, a lack of effective navigation aids limits vessel entry and departure operations to daylight hours, from 6 am to 6 pm. The situation is occasionally aggravated by dust storms generated by strong winds that impair visibility.

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

For information on Somalia Port Charges, please see the following document: Somalia Port Tarrifs

Berthing Specifications

Total length of quay (650 meters) shared by all vessels except tankers. RO/RO ramp at western end of quay (berth number 6)

General Cargo Handling Berths

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General Cargo Handling Berths

For further information on General Cargo Handling Berths, please select the following document:

Somaliland Berbera Port Additional Information

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

Port Handling Equipment

Cargo Handling

Mobile cranes with pedestals are used to discharge general cargo unless ro-ro at berth no.6 in which case forklifts offload on pallets if available or onto trailers. Geared vessels preferential.
Bulk cargo: Bagging facilities available for hire, generally at 1 % of value although negotiable.
Break bulk cargo: Discharged by ship's gear generally directly to consignee transport or via mobile cranes or stevedores on chargeable basis.
Containerized cargo: 20ft and 40ft FLC discharged by ship's gear onto berth with one 40ft forklift available. No specific berth is assigned. As per the Port staff, only 2 vessels can be efficiently handled at one time.
There are no shore cranes at the port; mobile cranes are available for hire at the following charges.

Cargo Handling Equipment

No fixed port cranes. No vacuvators and silo facilities. Bagging facilities available for hire on request.

• Mobile cranes: 4 mobile cranes available, 3 x 15 mt capacity and 1 x 32 mt capacity, 3 observed in the workshop (2 small, 1 large) with one in the port.
• Forklift trucks: supposedly 5 x 2.5 - 6.0 mt range of lift capacity. 3 observed in the workshop of which 2 where new Nissans (1 year old) only one seen in the port.
• Top lift truck: 1 x 32 mt capacity, in the workshop but working.
• Trailers: 4 x 20 mt capacity, one in workshop one being rebuilt.
• Sufficient rope slings and nets, poor condition.
• Cargo handling capacity is mainly labour intensive.

Container Facilities

Port Handling Equipment

• Doubling the current container handling from six to twelve moves per hour is well within the realm of possibility. Acquisition of more materials handling equipment in conjunction with more efficient procedures could drastically improve vessel turn around and reduce time in port. This opens up the port for increased vessel traffic and reduces shipping costs to Berbera.
• The main port equipment and facilities include the Mayara and Tamara lighthouses at the entry of the port.
• Cargo handling equipment (10 x mobile cranes (70 mt), 2 x forklifts of 32 mt).
• Storage warehouses: Total area 5,760 m² with storage capacity up to 120,000 mt, open storage (64,000 m²) is available plus a container storage yard.
• In 2014 Berbera Port Authority initiated a major plan to expand the dry port by compacting an area of 700 m x 300 m and placing asphalt in which will be handled for containers as an additional container terminal. The construction is still ongoing and so far the authority has managed to accomplish 300 m x 100 m out of the planned development. The plan is to complete the new terminal by the end of July 2016.

• The port currently only accommodates 35,000 tons

• The expansion of the Port of Berbera could cost more than $65 million. Ali Omar Mohamed, in charge of the Port of Berbera, recently stated that he imagines the port becoming 20 meters (22 yards) deep compared to its current 11.5 to 12 meters depth. At 20 meters, the port could accommodate the world’s largest container ship, weighing 300,000 tons. The expansion of the port is very much a documented expectation for the future of Somaliland (see the National Development Plan 2012-2016), but attracting private investors into the port remains an ongoing process.

Container Facilities

The increased usage of containers has contributed to the improvement of Berbera Port efficiency in vessel turnaround and handling. There is a consistent positive trend in the number of containers handled: in 2012 the port handled 21,538 containers, an improvement of 22% from 2009. Maersk and PIL Lines signed an agreement with Port Authorities to operate a regular service to the Port of Berbera and are represented in Berbera and the capital Hargeisa. 

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Terminal Information

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Multipurpose Terminal

This is available although currently not a main part of the port activities as mostly offloaded directly to consignee. Two transit shed/warehouses are available in the port area with a total area of 5,760 sqm. This is divided into 2 covered sheds of which one seems very busy and generally full time occupied. Total capacity between the two is approximately 120,000 metric tons although this is based on measurements with very high ceilings and no indoor crane facilities to stack that high. Local traders occupy one store since 1996, while the second one is available to port customers.
The latter can be used for maximum of 14 days free of charge, with a special agreement with Ethiopian goods in transit up to 1 month free of charge; thereafter, storage rent is charged that is higher than the storage charges outside the port with commercial enterprises. Open port storage is also available with 20,000 square metres space used for containers. Approximately 10+ containers were observed during visit only.

Available Storage (covered): 2 - 5,750 sqm or 120,000 mtn total

Available Storage (open air): 1 - 20,000 sqm

Stevedoring

No storage to shed done.

Generally direct from ship, using ships gear directly on lorry and to WFP warehouse.

Stevedoring supplied by the port, through private contractor

ALL basic stevedoring is US$ 4.00 per MT ( US$ 2.50 for aid cargoes )

Over 40 DWT : As Above

Hire of a gang: As Above

Port Security

Gangway watchmen available around the clock. Police and port security on internal and external perimeter duty 24 hrs daily.
Customs security available around the clock.
Port wharves are fenced.

Due to the location of the port the entry points are sealed off and quite well guarded, however, security seems to be more geared towards deterring entry of private traders as opposed to potential security risks.

For further information on port maintenance and repairs, Generators, Weighbridges, Ship Supplies, port and harbour dues, dockage, buoyage and anchorage, hire of labour and equipment, shore handling: containerised cargo, general services oil handling terminal, bagging - grain and on conventional and containerised cargo, please select the following document:

Somaliland Berbera Port Additional Information

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.Maps from Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP), which is an independent NGO working together with Somali authorities to support investors and donors for the development of Berbera Port, show that the port has recently emerged as an important and strategic logistics hub widely used by humanitarian agencies and industry alike.

Grain and Bulk Handling

Bulk Grain Operations: Silo construction was never completed. The silos are unusable when bulk grain is offloaded, it must be unloaded directly into trucks on the quay.
Bagging operations can be done on the quay side. There are no installed bagging facilities at the Ports of Berbera, Bossaso, Mogadishu or Kismayo.
Alternatively PortServ Company provides the services at the Ports when informed and contracted well in advance of a vessel arrival with Bulk Cereals.
PortServ provides direct bagging from ship discharge.

Main Storage Terminal

The Port of Berbera is owned and operated by the Somaliland Administration through an autonomous body called the Berbera Port Authority (BPA). The main port equipment and facilities include the Mayara and Tamara lighthouses at the entry of the port.

• Cargo handling equipment: 10 x mobile cranes (10 – 70 mt) and 2 x forklifts (32 mt).

• Storage warehouses (total area 5,760 m² with storage capacity up to 120,000 mt and open storage of 64,000 m² are available, plus a container storage area.

Stevedoring

Stevedoring is the movement of cargo from the ship to the stock for imports and from the stick to ship in the case of export. For any stevedoring services performed the following charges shall be applied:

On 8^th August 2015 Berbera Port Authority issued a new tariffs of empty containers which was effective from 1^st September 2015.

The increase of tariffs are $30 and $50 for 20 TEU and 40 FEU respectively.

In addition the authority has increased port handling charges for containerized cargo as below effective 1^st Jan 2016:

1. Cargo handling charges: port dues 2.5 per ton
2. Container handling charges:

Extension: there is a round of extension for Berbera port during the year 2015.

1. Purpose: the purpose of extension at Berbera port is to use containerized cargo as Container terminal yard.
2. International Agreement: There is no currently agencies deal with agreement for Berbera port.
3. Local Agreement: There is no local agencies currently deal with for Berbera port.

Hinterland Information

There is an organized security system which requires a gate pass for people to move cargo out of the port. Trucks of various sizes are available for hire. In addition to this, there is a union transport which provides the trucks; around 4,000 trucks are registered with them. Truck capacities are from 10 mt to 30 mt, among these there are also old trucks which cannot go beyond the town. The Union of Truck owners is capable of providing enough trucks for transporting goods arriving or leaving the Port.

Port Security