Djibouti has officially commissioned the largest ship repair yard in East Africa and the Red Sea region, strengthening its position along one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
The Djibouti ship repair yard (DSRY) features a floating dock measuring 217 metres in length and 43 metres in width, with the capacity to lift vessels of up to 20,100 tonnes. The facility is designed to handle a wide range of ships, offering both preventive maintenance and complex repair services, including dry docking and mechanical work.
Located near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical gateway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the project reflects Djibouti’s strategic ambition to expand its role in global shipping and logistics. Officials say the development of the largest ship repair yard in the region has been treated as a national priority, given the country’s proximity to major international trade routes.
President Ismail Omar Guelleh noted that Djibouti has a responsibility to support vessels transiting through the region, particularly those requiring technical servicing. The new yard is expected to reduce the need for ships to travel long distances for repairs, positioning Djibouti as a more comprehensive maritime service centre.
Beyond infrastructure, the project carries economic implications. Authorities estimate that the facility will generate around 350 direct jobs and 1,400 indirect jobs, while also contributing to the development of technical skills among local workers. The operational model is designed to combine international expertise with local capacity, with the aim of building long-term sustainability in maritime services.
Infrastructure Minister Hassan Houmed Ibrahim described the yard as a strategic national asset that will enhance port competitiveness and support the country’s blue economy, an area increasingly linked to long-term economic growth.
For the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, the facility aligns with broader national planning. Chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi said the project supports the country’s Vision 2035, which seeks to position Djibouti as a leading logistics and commercial hub in the region.
The project has also drawn support from international partners. Arnout Damen reaffirmed continued technical and operational backing to ensure the yard’s long-term performance, reflecting a collaborative approach to developing the facility.
Djibouti’s investment in the largest ship repair yard in East Africa forms part of a wider strategy to capture more value from the heavy shipping traffic passing through the Red Sea corridor. The country has, in recent years, expanded its port and logistics infrastructure to strengthen its role as a regional gateway.
This role is particularly significant for neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia, which relies heavily on Djibouti’s ports for the majority of its imports and exports. By expanding into ship repair and maintenance services, Djibouti is moving beyond transit logistics toward a more diversified maritime economy.
The new largest ship repair yard in East Africa places the country in a stronger position within regional and global shipping networks, where proximity to trade routes increasingly needs to be matched by service capacity.
