King Mohammed VI presided Thursday over the inauguration and inspection of several large-scale projects forming part of the restructuring and development of the Casablanca Port Complex, aimed at reinforcing the city's economic and tourism appeal. With total investments of around 5 billion dirhams, the program includes the construction of a new fishing port, a shipyard, a modern cruise terminal, and an administrative complex bringing together all stakeholders operating at the Port of Casablanca. Carried out by the National Ports Agency, these projects reflect the King's commitment to equipping Morocco's economic capital with state-of-the-art infrastructure that meets international standards, fosters sustainable growth for the metropolis, and responds to the legitimate aspirations of its residents. The King inaugurated the new fishing port (1.2 billion DH), designed to improve safety and working conditions for local fishermen, create better conditions for marketing and adding value to seafood products, organize the artisanal and coastal fishing sectors, and encourage related activities. The port is built to accommodate more than 260 artisanal fishing boats and nearly 100 coastal fishing vessels. It features integrated facilities for landing and marketing catches, including a next-generation fish market near the docks, a standardized container management unit, three ice production plants, offices for shipowners and wholesalers, and a seamen's home. The King then visited the new shipyard, which aims to modernize and expand Morocco's shipbuilding and repair industry, attract greater investment in the sector, meet national demand while serving part of the international market, and bolster the Kingdom's global competitiveness. Representing an investment of 2.5 billion DH, the shipyard includes a 240m-long dry dock (40m wide, 8.1m deep), capable of servicing vessels up to 220m long and 32m wide. It also features a 150m x 28m lifting platform with a 9,700-ton capacity, a 60m-long, 13m-wide slipway with an 8.7m depth equipped with a 450-ton strap hoist, as well as 21 hectares of paved surfaces and 660m of outfitting quays. The Sovereign also inaugurated the new cruise terminal (720 million DH), an international-standard facility designed to enhance Casablanca's appeal and support the growth of tourism, especially cruise travel. With capacity to handle 450,000 passengers annually, the terminal can accommodate ships up to 350m in length and 45m in width, with a draft of 9m. The project included a maritime station, a 650m-long disembarkation quay, three boarding bridges (one fixed and two mobile), and a parking area for 44 coaches. The new administrative complex (500 million DH) brings together all port operators, including the port authority, customs, district services, shipping agents, and stevedores, into a single space. Its goal is to optimize port use, improve service quality for users, and strengthen the port's integration with the city's urban fabric. Together, these projects represent a major step in modernizing the Casablanca Port Complex and diversifying its roles, while reinforcing Morocco's broader port development strategy. They complement achievements such as the Tanger-Med container port and upcoming hubs at Nador West-Med and Dakhla Atlantique. Ultimately, these initiatives aim to elevate Casablanca as a premier tourist destination, strengthen its assets in business and cruise travel, and support the balanced economic, urban, and demographic growth of the wider region.
