Marsa Maroc and CMA Terminals, part of France's CMA CGM group, have signed a partnership to operate the West Container Terminal at Morocco's Nador West Med port, reported Morocco World News.

The joint venture will be 51 per cent owned by Marsa Maroc and 49 per cent by CMA Terminals, pending regulatory approval. The terminal will begin phased operations in 2027, with full commissioning expected by 2030.

The facility will span 60 hectares and feature 900 metres of quay with 18-metre depth. At full capacity, it will operate eight Ship-to-Shore cranes and handle 1.8 million TEU annually.

The agreement builds on CMA CGM's existing ties with Morocco, including a convention signed with Tanger Med Group in October 2024. The new terminal will benefit from CMA CGM's global network and Marsa Maroc's local expertise.

Located in Betoya Bay near the Strait of Gibraltar, Nador West Med is designed as a high-performance transshipment hub. It will diversify Morocco's Mediterranean port infrastructure and bolster its maritime trade position.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has committed EUR300 million (US$350) to the project, including a EUR110 million loan approved in March. Two earlier loans in 2015 and 2022 totalled nearly EUR200 million.

Once fully operational, the port aims to handle 3.5 to 5.5 million containers and up to 25 million tons of hydrocarbons annually. The Eastern Container Terminal will offer 1,520 metres of quay and 18-metre draft, with a design capacity of 3.4 million TEU.

Marsa Maroc has also partnered with Boluda Towage France to provide towage and assistance services under a 20-year authorisation starting in late 2026.

Investment for the West Container Terminal's first phase stands at MAD3.04 billion (US$304 million). The expansion will raise Marsa Maroc's total container capacity to nine million TEU, with seven million TEU allocated to transshipment.

Connectivity upgrades are underway. In July, ONCF launched the Selouane-NWM rail spur, linking the port to Morocco's national freight corridors.