Djibouti officially inaugurated the new Djibouti Ship Repair Yard (DSRY) on April 4, marking a major milestone for the regional maritime economy. The facility is now the largest ship repair yard in both the Red Sea and East Africa, providing critical maintenance and repair services for commercial vessels.
President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh highlighted that the DSRY has been a long term national priority due to the country’s strategic position at the entrance to the Bab el Mandeb strait, one of the busiest maritime trade routes in the world.
First proposed by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority in December 2016, the project was finally realized through a partnership with Damen Shipyard and financial backing from Invest International in the Netherlands. The total investment for the development is valued at €107.5 million (approximately $124 million).
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The shipyard spans 80 hectares and includes over 800 meters of berth space. In February, operators repositioned a massive floating dock to the yard. Measuring 217 meters in length, the dock boasts a lifting capacity of 20,100 tonnes, allowing it to efficiently handle large commercial cargo vessels.
On October 15, 2025, the facility dry docked its first large vessel: the Africa Sun. The 13,719 dwt Djibouti flagged containership, which operates across Red Sea and Middle Eastern ports, underwent a month of intensive repairs. Crews completed underwater hull inspections, painting, structural deck repairs, and essential maintenance on the ship’s piping and electrical systems.
While port officials have not set a specific timeline for when the yard will reach full operational capacity, they are actively marketing the new infrastructure to attract more international shipping business.