By Maria Kalamatas | July 31, 2025
Ain Sokhna, July 31 — Egypt has received a shipment of massive port cranes at Ain Sokhna as part of its strategy to transform into a leading Red Sea logistics and transshipment hub. The delivery includes three ship‑to‑shore (STS) cranes and twelve automated rubber‑tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, marking the first installment of a total order of six STS and eighteen RTG cranes for Hutchison Containers Terminal 1.
“These cranes are a critical milestone in building Hutchison Terminal 1 into a fully smart facility,” stated Kamel El‑Wazir, Egypt’s Minister of Transport and Industry. The terminal will feature an advanced Terminal Operating System (TOS), GPS and RFID tracking for cargo and equipment, centralized crane control, and energy‑efficient systems.
A leap forward in port automation
Terminal 1 represents the first phase of the Red‑to‑Med integrated logistics corridor, designed to connect Ain Sokhna to Dekheila on the Mediterranean. The STS cranes are capable of handling the world’s largest container ships, while the RTG cranes will operate autonomously in the container yard, reducing human error and significantly increasing handling speed.
Strategic significance
The Red Sea Container Terminals project is being developed under a 30‑year concession by a consortium that includes Hutchison Ports, COSCO Shipping Ports, and CMA CGM. Once fully operational by the end of 2025, the facility will feature a 1,200‑meter quay, 18‑meter draft, a 72‑hectare container yard, and an annual capacity of 1.7 million TEU. It will operate alongside DP World’s Sokhna Terminal 1, which already has a 2.3 million TEU capacity, positioning Ain Sokhna as a pivotal hub for East‑West trade routes.
What happens next
The remaining three STS and six RTG cranes are expected to arrive before the end of 2025, enabling full commissioning of Hutchison Terminal 1. With its sustainable, automated infrastructure, the terminal will support mega‑vessels and serve as a cornerstone of Egypt’s Red Sea – Suez logistics corridor.
