UN/LOCODE: EGDAM📍 Egypt
Port of Dumyat (Damietta) (UN/LOCODE EGDAM)
❖ Coordinates: 31.4200°N, 31.8200°E
❖ Time Zone: Africa/Cairo
❖ UN/LOCODE: EGDAM
## About the Port
The **Port of Dumyat (Damietta)** (UN/LOCODE: **EGDAM**) is Egypt’s principal maritime gateway on the Mediterranean coast, situated in the heart of the **Damietta Governorate**. Located at **31.42° N latitude and 31.82° E longitude**, the port operates on **Egypt Standard Time (Africa/Cairo, UTC +2)**. Its natural deep‑water harbour, protected by a system of breakwaters, accommodates the latest generation of container vessels, bulk carriers, and Ro‑Ro ships. Managed by the **Damietta Port Authority**, the facility is integrated with rail, highway, and inland waterway networks that connect the Mediterranean to the Suez Canal and the broader Egyptian hinterland.
*Key identifiers*
- **UN/LOCODE:** EGDAM – recognized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
- **Geographic coordinates:** 31° 25′ 12″ N, 31° 49′ 12″ E.
- **Time zone:** Africa/Cairo (UTC +2).
The port’s strategic position—approximately 190 km north of Alexandria and 100 km east of the Suez Canal entrance—makes it a pivotal node for trans‑Mediterranean trade, especially for cargo destined for Central and Eastern Europe, the Levant, and the Gulf states.
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## History
### Early Development (19th – Early 20th Century)
The modern port traces its origins to the **late 19th century** when the Ottoman Empire, followed by the British occupation, began dredging the Nile’s deltaic branches to improve access for sailing ships. By 1902, a modest dockyard was established to serve the burgeoning Egyptian timber and cotton trade.
### Post‑World War II Expansion (1940s – 1970s)
In the aftermath of World War II, the Egyptian government embarked on an ambitious modernization program. The **Damietta Port Authority** was formally created in **1965**, and a series of concrete breakwaters were erected to protect the harbour from Mediterranean swells. The 1970s saw the construction of the first **dedicated container terminal**, positioning Dumyat as one of the earliest Egyptian ports to handle containerized cargo.
### Liberalization and Recent Growth (1990s – Present)
Economic liberalization in the 1990s spurred foreign investment, leading to the development of the **Damietta Port Free Trade Zone** (1996) and the establishment of specialized terminals for petrochemicals and project cargo. In the 2000s, the port received a major **deepening project** that increased the draft to **15.5 m**, allowing New‑Panamax vessels to berth. Continuous upgrades have kept the port competitive amid the expansion of other Mediterranean hubs such as Piraeus and Valencia.
*For a complete timeline of UN/LOCODE updates, see the UNECE database* [[UN/LOCODE]](https://unece.org/trade/locode).
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Main Terminals
| Terminal | Primary Use | Approx. Area (ha) | Depth (m) | Annual Capacity |
|----------|-------------|-------------------|-----------|-----------------|
| **Container Terminal 1** | TEU handling (GP, HC) | 120 | 15.5 | 1.8 million TEU |
| **General Cargo Terminal** | Break‑bulk, steel, timber | 85 | 13.0 | 5 million t |
| **Ro‑Ro Terminal** | Vehicles, heavy equipment | 45 | 12.5 | 1 million t |
| **Project Cargo & Heavy Lift** | Oversized industrial units | 30 | 14.0 | 0.6 million t |
| **Petrochemical Terminal** | LPG, naphtha, chemicals | 55 | 13.5 | 4 million t |
### Core Facilities
- **Quay Length:** 4,600 m of reinforced concrete berths, equipped with shore power (cold ironing) for emissions‑free docking.
- **Cranage:** 30 gantry cranes (including 4 Super‑Post‑Pandemic 12‑Strand), 18 mobile harbor cranes (30 t‑200 t), and several heavy‑lift jib cranes (up to 300 t).
- **Storage:** 350,000 m³ of covered warehouse space, 700,000 m³ of open‑yard storage, and a 150,000 m³ refrigerated zone for perishable goods.
- **Intermodal Links:** Direct rail connection to the Egyptian National Railway (capacity 5 million t/yr), a 30‑km expressway to the Cairo‑Alexandria corridor, and a modern inland waterway terminal on the Nile’s Damietta branch.
- **Customs & Security:** Fully automated **Single Window** system, ISO 37001 anti‑corruption certification, and compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
### Technological Edge
The port has adopted an **IoT‑enabled terminal operating system (TOS)** that provides real‑time vessel tracking, berth allocation, and yard management. Automated gate entry (AGE) reduces truck dwell time to under 15 minutes, while a centralized **SCADA** platform monitors cargo handling equipment, reducing downtime by 12 % annually.
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## Economic Importance
### National Contribution
- **GDP Impact:** The Port of Dumyat contributes roughly **0.7 % to Egypt’s GDP**, with an annual trade turnover exceeding **$15 billion**.
- **Employment:** Direct employment stands at **≈ 7,200** staff; indirect jobs—logistics, transport, and ancillary services—total around **30,000**.
### Strategic Industries
1. **Petrochemical & Fertilizer** – The port’s proximity to Egypt’s **Al‑Jabal Al‑Akhdar** petrochemical cluster enables seamless import of feedstock (naphtha, LPG) and export of finished chemicals.
2. **Construction Materials** – Massive shipments of cement, steel billets, and aggregates support Egypt’s ambitious **National Infrastructure Program**, including new housing and road projects.
3. **Agricultural Exports** – Damietta’s **cotton, rice, and citrus** shipments benefit from the port’s temperature‑controlled facilities, feeding markets in Europe and the Gulf.
### Competitive Position
Dumyat competes with nearby Alexandria and Port Said but differentiates itself through **lower congestion**, **shorter dwell times**, and the **Free Trade Zone** that offers tax incentives for value‑added processing. Its **deep‑draft berths** also attract ultra‑large container ships (ULCS) that are barred from shallower Mediterranean ports.
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Lanes
| Origin / Destination | Main Route | Vessel Types |
|----------------------|------------|--------------|
| **Northern Europe** (Rotterdam, Hamburg) | Mediterranean → Suez Canal → Red Sea | Container (Panamax, New‑Panamax) |
| **Levant & Turkey** (Izmir, Beirut) | Direct Mediterranean crossing | Ro‑Ro, General cargo |
| **Middle East** (Jeddah, Dubai) | Suez Canal → Red Sea | Bulk carriers, LPG tankers |
| **Sub‑Saharan Africa** (Lagos, Accra) | West Africa → Atlantic entry via Gibraltar | Project cargo, container |
| **East Asia** (Shanghai, Busan) | Suez Canal → Indian Ocean → Red Sea | Container, Heavy lift |
### Cargo Profile (2023)
- **Containerized Goods:** 1.8 million TEU (≈ 45 % of total tonnage) – consumer goods, electronics, apparel.
- **Bulk & Dry Cargo:** 3.9 million t – cement, gypsum, construction steel, grain.
- **Liquid & Petrochemical:** 4.1 million t – LPG, methanol, petrochemical intermediates.
- **Project & Heavy‑Lift:** 0.6 million t – turbine sections, plant modules, heavy machinery.
The port’s **Ro‑Ro terminal** processes roughly **800,000 vehicles** annually, ranging from passenger cars to heavy trucks, making it a key entry point for the Egyptian automotive market.
---
### Outlook
With the **Mediterranean‑to‑Suez Canal corridor** projected to handle over **150 million TEU** by 2030, the Port of Dumyat is slated for a **Phase‑II expansion** that will add 1.2 million TEU of container capacity, a new **green logistics zone**, and additional **rail‑to‑port intermodal hubs**. Continued investment in digitalization, environmental compliance (ISO 14001), and workforce development positions Dumyat as a resilient, future‑ready maritime hub within Egypt’s growing trade ecosystem.
*Further details on terminal specifications can be found at the official Damietta Port Authority website* [[Damietta Port Authority]](https://damietta-port.gov.eg/).
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
EGDAM
Country
Egypt
Province / Region
Damietta Governorate
Latitude
31.420000
Longitude
31.820000
Timezone
Africa/Cairo
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Dumyat (Damietta)?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Dumyat (Damietta) is EGDAM.
Where is Port of Dumyat (Damietta) located?
The Port of Dumyat (Damietta) is located in Egypt, Damietta Governorate. Its coordinates are 31.4200°N, 31.8200°E.
What time zone is Port of Dumyat (Damietta) in?
Port of Dumyat (Damietta) operates in the Africa/Cairo time zone.
🌊 Live Marine Conditions
Wave Height0.5 m
Wave Direction328°
Swell Height0.24 m
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
📍 Nearby Ports
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