✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | August 29th, 2024 — In a decisive effort to elevate Algeria’s maritime capabilities, the Algerian Maritime Transport Group (Gatma) is preparing to significantly bolster its fleet by acquiring three new bulk carriers, each capable of transporting between 55,000 and 60,000 tons of goods. This announcement, made by Gatma’s CEO, Nadia Rabia, during a Wednesday radio interview on Chaîne 1, marks a pivotal advancement in the company’s strategic mission to reclaim a more substantial share of the national maritime transport market.
This acquisition, set to follow an imminent international tender, is integral to Gatma’s broader strategic vision of increasing its foothold in a market currently dominated by foreign fleets. At present, Algeria’s national fleet accounts for a mere 2% of the market, while foreign operators hold the majority. However, Gatma has set its sights on capturing 25% of the maritime transport market, supported by a robust investment strategy and an impressive budget of 52 billion DZD dedicated to fleet renewal and expansion.
Currently operating a fleet of 12 vessels and managing 3,500 containers, Gatma’s expansion plan includes a forward-looking initiative to locally produce these containers through collaborations with both national and international partners, thereby contributing to the enhancement of Algeria’s industrial base.
Expanding Maritime Horizons
Beyond the fleet expansion, Gatma is actively exploring new maritime routes, with feasibility studies underway to establish connections with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This initiative builds on the success of a new maritime route launched in February 2022, connecting Algiers with the West African cities of Nouakchott and Dakar. This route has already facilitated nine crossings, with another scheduled for September. These routes are not only strategically vital but also commercially promising, as Gatma has secured a favorable agreement with the Ministry of Commerce to provide reduced transport costs to economic operators utilizing these services.
Navigating Challenges in Passenger Transport
While Gatma’s freight operations continue to grow, the company has faced significant challenges in its passenger transport segment. The summer program was unexpectedly disrupted due to technical issues with the chartered vessel, Moby Dada, leading to the recent termination of the charter contract by the National Maritime Passenger Transport Company (ENTMV). Gatma has responded swiftly by arranging refunds for affected passengers and reorganizing travel schedules to mitigate the impact of these disruptions. Meanwhile, the vessel Tarek Ibn Ziyad is undergoing repairs in Athens, adding further complexity to the summer travel schedule.
Despite these setbacks, Gatma successfully completed 173 crossings this summer, transporting a total of 146,000 passengers and 43,000 vehicles. This resilience in the face of operational challenges underscores Gatma’s commitment to advancing Algeria’s maritime transport infrastructure, both in freight and passenger services, as the company continues to broaden its operational capacity and market reach.
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