Red Sea Container Terminals trial operations have begun at Ain Sokhna Port within the Suez Canal Economic Zone, marking a major step in Egypt’s port infrastructure expansion and its efforts to strengthen container handling capacity along the Red Sea corridor. The start of the first phase of the Red Sea Container Terminals project was witnessed by Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, together with Walid Gamal El-Din, President of the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The terminal is operated by Red Sea Container Terminals and is backed by a consortium comprising Hutchison Ports, CMA CGM, and COSCO Shipping.
Positioned as the newest container terminal at Sokhna Port, the facility has been developed to support Egypt’s transit trade objectives and reinforce its role along the Red Sea maritime route. Sokhna Port functions as a strategic gateway linking African, Gulf, and Asian markets, and Red Sea Container Terminals trial operations are intended to enhance the port’s ability to handle growing container volumes while accommodating next-generation vessels. According to details presented by the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the terminal will reach a total berth length of 2.6 kilometers across two development phases, with 1.2 kilometers now operational in Phase 1. The combined terminal footprint covers approximately 1.6 million square meters and is designed for a planned handling capacity of 3.5 million TEUs per year. The infrastructure is engineered to receive ultra-large container vessels measuring up to 400 meters in length.
Red Sea Container Terminals confirmed through its official LinkedIn communication that operations commenced with the first vessel call by CMA CGM Helium, marking the soft opening of the facility and the operational launch of Red Sea Container Terminals trial operations. The company stated that the terminal was developed over an 18-month period in coordination with the Ministry of Transport and the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Phase 1 includes 720,000 square meters of yard space and is equipped with remotely operated container cranes that are ready for operational use, supporting container handling across the terminal.
Sustainability has also been built into the terminal’s design. Red Sea Container Terminals pointed to the use of electric cargo-handling equipment and electric trucks within the operating fleet, helping reduce emissions from port activities. The trial launch coincides with international recognition for Ain Sokhna Port. El-Wazir received a Guinness World Records certificate recognizing Ain Sokhna as the deepest man-made port basin constructed on land, with a depth of 19 meters. The certificate was presented by Kanzy El-Defrawy, an accredited Guinness World Records adjudicator, during an official visit to the port. El-Wazir said the recognition reflects the scale of development underway across Egypt’s maritime ports and forms part of a national plan to transform Ain Sokhna into a global logistics hub on the Red Sea. With Red Sea Container Terminals’ trial operations underway, the new facility represents a significant addition to Sokhna Port’s container capacity and Egypt’s integration into global shipping and logistics networks.
