Port of Durres in Albania to undergo major upgrades

Plans for the new port of Durres at Porto Romano, Albania, and a dry port in Pristina, Kosovo, have been presented by Netherlands-based marine construction specialists Royal HaskoningDHV to the governments of Albania and Kosovo.

The plans will see the industrial functions of the existing Port of Durres move out of the city to a new location in Porto Romano, nine kilometres north. The project partners expect consolidation of industrial activity will lead to the establishment of a cargo facility that will improve trade throughout the region.

The new seaport will use the latest in automation technologies and will be interconnected with the rail network as well as road infrastructure. This will facilitate efficient, sustainable connectivity with the planned dry port facility in neighbouring Kosovo, creating a trade hub for the rest of the Balkan states.

Following extensive discussions, the plans now also include an inland transshipment terminal near Pristina, Kosovo, which will ensure the whole of the Balkans region will enjoy the economic benefits of the new port. The plan also incorporates the redevelopment of the existing Port of Durrës into a commercial leisure-focused waterfront.

Royal HaskoningDHV will undertake the port construction works along with local partner Abkons and the Durres Port Authority. The project partners anticipate that the first port operations could begin in 2025.