Djibouti has inaugurated a major new ship repair facility, marking a significant step in its maritime and industrial development strategy.
The Djibouti Ship Repair Yard (DSRY), developed in partnership with Damen Shipyards and financed with $120 million from Invest International, is now the largest facility of its kind in East Africa and the Red Sea region.
The yard features a floating dock measuring 217 metres in length and 43 metres in width, with a lifting capacity of 20,100 tonnes. It is designed to handle a wide range of vessels, offering both preventive and corrective maintenance services supported by a mix of international expertise and local workforce development.
Djibouti’s strategic location at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb—one of the world’s busiest shipping routes—has been central to the project’s importance. President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh described the facility as a long-standing national priority.
Authorities say the yard will strengthen port competitiveness, support the country’s blue economy ambitions and reinforce Djibouti’s role as a key logistics and maritime hub aligned with its Vision 2035 strategy.
