The Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority has deployed two modern tugboats to handle larger cargo vessels, according to the statement.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Sunday at the old port and was attended by the President of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, Aboubaker Omar Hadi.
The tugboats were named Farah Hassan Ragueh and Saad Warsama Dirieh after former officials who served in the Djibouti Ports administration.
Each tugboat is powered by 6,800 horsepower and is designed to assist the safe entry and exit of very large vessels.
Djiboutian authorities said the tugboats can manoeuvre ships between 370 and 390 metres in length in waters with a draft of up to 18 metres. The new units replace an earlier generation of tugboats with 1,800 horsepower that were limited to vessels of up to 170 metres.
Authorities said the upgrade reflects the growth in container shipping, with Djibouti’s ports now able to accommodate container vessels carrying up to 23,000 TEU, compared with about 6,500 TEU two decades ago.
The acquisition forms part of a long-term investment policy spanning more than 20 years. More than $108 million has been invested in tugboats, pilot boats and patrol vessels to support vessel movements at Djibouti’s ports.
The investment cost for the two tugboats was reported at $9.74 million per unit.
Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority is a public authority of the Republic of Djibouti responsible for the regulation, development and management of the country’s ports and free zones, including oversight of maritime services and port infrastructure planning.
