Djibouti has inaugurated the largest ship-repair facility in the Red Sea and East Africa, designed to deliver regional maintenance and engineering support for global maritime traffic.
President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh officially inaugurated the Djibouti Ship Repair Yard (DSRY) on 4 April 2026. The facility is a joint venture between the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) and the Dutch maritime firm Damen Shipyards Group. Construction and outfitting costs totaled €107.5 million—around $124 million—financed through Invest International, a Dutch development institution.
Spanning 80 hectares, the yard features 800 meters of alongside berth capacity for dry-docking and in-water repairs. At its core is a 217-meter floating dock, which arrived on site in February 2026. Measuring 43 meters in width and rated to lift 20,100 tonnes, the dock enables the yard to accommodate a wide range of commercial vessels as well as auxiliary naval platforms.
Although the official opening was held this month, the facility commenced trial operations in late 2025. The 13,719-deadweight-tonne containership Africa Sun became the first vessel to undergo dry-docking at the yard on 15 October 2025. During its month-long stay, repair teams carried out hull painting, structural steel works, and electrical system rehabilitation.
Strategic Regional Support
The yard is strategically positioned at the approach to the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean. Until now, ships requiring major repairs in this high-traffic corridor have often needed to detour to facilities in the Middle East or Southern Europe. With the DSRY in place, maritime operators gain a nearer and more practical alternative for maintenance and engineering interventions.
The yard’s technical portfolio spans both preventive maintenance and complex mechanical overhauls. It is equipped to manage piping and tank repairs, as well as underwater inspections. Speaking during the ceremony, Minister of Infrastructure Hassan Houmed Ibrahim described the yard as a national asset—one intended to strengthen port competitiveness and cultivate local technical competence.
The project also complements Djibouti’s Vision 2035 agenda to broaden maritime capabilities beyond cargo handling. DPFZA Chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi emphasized that the facility helps create a more integrated logistics ecosystem. By enabling repairs on-site, the port can retain revenue that previously accrued to overseas competitors.
The DSRY is projected to generate 350 direct jobs and approximately 1,400 indirect positions across the local economy. Damen Shipyards will initially provide management oversight and technical training, ensuring that the workforce develops the skills required to meet international maritime standards. Over the next decade, the partnership aims to transfer specialized engineering expertise into the Djiboutian labor market.
In addressing a longstanding regional infrastructure gap, the DSRY establishes a sovereign repair capability that supports both commercial shipping and the international naval forces based in Djibouti. As regional trade volumes continue to rise, the yard may pursue further enhancement of its lifting capacity, positioning it to accommodate larger Panamax-class vessels.
Djibouti is the only country in the world that simultaneously hosts military bases from global rivals including the United States and China. Its strategic value stems from its location on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a 28-kilometer-wide chokepoint that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Home to Camp Lemonnier, the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa, housing over 4,000 personnel. China established its first overseas military base at Doraleh in 2017 to support anti-piracy, peacekeeping, and humanitarian missions. France maintains a long-term presence at Base Aérienne 188 and Heron Naval Base. Operates its only overseas base in Djibouti to support counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Italy operates the Base Militare Nazionale Amedeo Guillet, while Germany and Spain maintain troop presences, while Saudi Arabia has been in negotiations to establish its own facility.
Recently, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its strike group docked at the Port of Djibouti for maintenance and replenishment. The Chinese Navy 48th Naval Escort Group, including the destroyer Tangshan, is currently utilizing the Chinese base for regional maritime security operations. Djibouti serves as a primary home port for Operations Atalanta and Aspides, which protect commercial shipping from piracy and regional threats.