Morocco initiates tender for construction of Africa’s largest shipyard

Morocco’s National Ports Agency (MNP) has opened an international tender for a 30 years concession to take charge of Africa’s Largest Shipyard in Morocco, a $300million project in Casablanca that purposes to replicate the country’s success in automotive manufacturing. The state- run agency is looking experienced operators to develop equipment and, manage the 52-acre facility, ANP Communications Director Abdellatif Lhouaoui said. The key infrastructure will include 244-meter by 40-meter dry dock, 150-meter by 28-meter lifting platform with 9,000-tonne capacity, 62-meter by 13-meter basin equipped with a 450-ton gantry crane, 820 linear meters of outfitting quays, and 21 hectares of open terrain for operations.

Bidding companies must demonstrate at least ten years of experience operating comparable shipyards, and candidates can bid independently or as part of a consortium led by an experienced operator. Naval Group (French naval contractor), and Hyundai (South Korea, operator of the world’s largest shipyard) are potential bidders. The new shipyard’s speculations, detailed in ANP’s official tender document and dated April 7, highlights four major installations.

These include a 244-meter by 40-meter dry dock; a 150 meter by 28-meter lifting platform with a 9,000-tonne capacity, a 62-meter by 13 -meter basin equipped with a 450- ton gantry crane; and 820 linear meters of outfitting quay. The facility encompass21 hectares of open terrain for operations.

The industry sources cited by El Confidencial show French Naval Contractor Naval Group and South Korea’s Hyundai, operator of the world’s largest shipyard in Ulsan, are likely frontrunner of the contract.

Spain’s state-owned Navantia ‘’appears to have very few options’’, as the Casablanca facility is reportedly designed compete with Spanish operation, the publication suggested.

The facility will service commercial, military, and fishing vessels, allowing Morocco to maintain its military fleet domestically rather than spending ‘’hard currency’’ abroad- a significant advantage for a country planning to loosen its currency peg in 2026.

The development follows Morocco’s successful maritime and industrial expansion pattern. The country’s Tanger-Medport recorded an 18.8% growth in 2024, processing 10.24 million containers. This growth contrasts with stagnating figures at Spain’s competing Ageciras port.

Morocco’s automotive sector has shown similar success with Renault and Stellantis (formerly PSA) facilities exporting over 500,000 vehicles to the European Union in 2023, valued at 15.1 billion euro.

The automotive industry now represents 27% of Morocco’s exports and 16%of the GPD, surpassing both remittance and tourism revenues.

The tender requirements published in French, specify that bidding companies should show at least 10 years of experience operating comparable shipyards. Candidates can bid independently or as part of a consortium led by an experienced operator.

The project appeared as particularly strategic, following the autumn 2022 redirection of Russia’s fishing fleet maintenance from Spanish Canary Island ports to Moroccan organisation, due to the sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict.