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Northern Africa

Streamlining Port Operations: Algeria’s Plan to Reduce Ship Dwell Duration

February 1, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

The Algerian Government is examining the rate of progress in implementing the roadmap aimed at reducing ship dwell times and import goods processing times, by strengthening coordination between all stakeholders and ensuring interoperability between the various digital systems operating in container and goods processing at the port level.

This initiative reflects the government’s determination to move from a traditional port system to a more modern, fast and efficient model, to boost Algeria’s competitiveness on the international maritime scene.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune instructed the Minister of Transport to redouble his vigilance and prudence in the face of all forms of manipulation, in particular the policy of procrastination concerning container control, insisting on the imperative of respecting unloading deadlines by reinforcing capacities and control mechanisms, which would free up space at dry ports. And to set up a coordination mechanism to manage the pressure resulting from waiting times in ports, to reduce them to a maximum of 24 hours.

A key aspect of the reform is the increased digitisation of port processes, to speed up procedures and reduce cargo handling times. With 95% of the country’s trade carried out by sea, digitisation is becoming a key lever for improving the efficiency of port activities.

Algeria has a network of 10 commercial ports, including 6 main ones: Ghazaouet, Oran, Mostaganem, Algiers, Djedjen and Annaba. These infrastructures play a central role in the flow of goods. The Port of Algiers, in particular, saw an 8% increase in the volume of goods handled in the 2nd quarter of 2024, reaching 2 million tonnes compared with 1.86 million tonnes for the same period in 2023. These figures testify to the first effects of the reforms undertaken to improve the efficiency of ports in managing maritime flows.