Port of Benghazi
Encyclopedia
The Port of Benghazi is a major seaport in the city of Benghazi
, Libya
, on the Mediterranean Sea
coast within the Gulf of Sidra
.
in the 6th Century BC. After passing it to the Egypt
ian pharaoh
Ptolemy III, it was renamed Berenice to honor his wife. The city’s current name honors benefactor Ghazi.
From the third century onwards, it surpassed Barce and Cyrene
as the region’s main center. Under the Kings of Libya, it was a joint capital with Tripoli
, resulting today in state level institutions being located in the second city. This resulted in a rivalry, which being located in different tribal districts, was only intensified.
Following a slow period of decline, it was redeveloped after occupation by the Italians
in 1912, until the start of the World War II
Western Desert Campaign
from 1942. This resulted in it becoming a hub in the eastern part of the Italian Libya Railways
, connecting it inland to Soluch and Barce. The port was subject to heavy damage in World War 2, as it moved between Axis
and Allied
control five times. The British Army
finally took the Port of Benghazi in 1942, during the Battle of El Agheila
.
The port facility itself serves general, bulk cargoes and containers, handled through eight transit sheds covering 17500 square metres (20,929.8 sq yd). Major exports include wool, hides, sheep and goats, hair fabrics, and wool rugs. Important imports include foodstuffs, textiles, pottery, tobacco, and chemical products.
Industries developed within the port include oil refining, food and salt processing, cement manufacturing, fishing, brewing, and tanning. The port is also the location of one of the biggest water desalination plants in the world.
Work is underway to add 3000 metres (9,842.5 ft) of additional quay and related facilities.
roads. Air access is via Benina International Airport
.
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, on the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
coast within the Gulf of Sidra
Gulf of Sidra
Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya; it is also known as Gulf of Sirte or the Great Sirte or Greater Syrtis .- Geography :The Gulf of Sidra has been a major centre for tuna fishing in the Mediterranean for centuries...
.
History
A natural seaport, it was founded as Euesperides by the ancient Greeks of CyrenaicaCyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
in the 6th Century BC. After passing it to the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Ptolemy III, it was renamed Berenice to honor his wife. The city’s current name honors benefactor Ghazi.
From the third century onwards, it surpassed Barce and Cyrene
Cyrene
Cyrene may refer to:* Cyrene , a Greek mythological figure* Cyrene, Libya, an ancient Greek colony in North Africa* USS Cyrene , a motor torpedo boat tender* 133 Cyrene, an asteroid...
as the region’s main center. Under the Kings of Libya, it was a joint capital with Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, resulting today in state level institutions being located in the second city. This resulted in a rivalry, which being located in different tribal districts, was only intensified.
Following a slow period of decline, it was redeveloped after occupation by the Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1912, until the start of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
from 1942. This resulted in it becoming a hub in the eastern part of the Italian Libya Railways
Italian Libya Railways
Italian Libya Railways was a group of small railways built in the Italian colony of Libya between the two World Wars.-History:The Kingdom of Italy built in Italian Libya nearly 400 km of railways with 950 mm gauge.-Projects:...
, connecting it inland to Soluch and Barce. The port was subject to heavy damage in World War 2, as it moved between Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
and Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
control five times. The British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
finally took the Port of Benghazi in 1942, during the Battle of El Agheila
Battle of El Agheila
The Battle of El Agheila was a minor engagement in North Africa during the Second World War. It took place in December 1942 between Allied forces led by Bernard Law Montgomery and Axis forces led by Erwin Rommel, during the Axis' long withdrawal from El Alamein to Tunis...
.
Present
Today the Port of Benghazi is run and owned by the state-owned Socialist Ports Company. It has been developed as a modern port with associated and linked manufacturing and industrial facilities.The port facility itself serves general, bulk cargoes and containers, handled through eight transit sheds covering 17500 square metres (20,929.8 sq yd). Major exports include wool, hides, sheep and goats, hair fabrics, and wool rugs. Important imports include foodstuffs, textiles, pottery, tobacco, and chemical products.
Industries developed within the port include oil refining, food and salt processing, cement manufacturing, fishing, brewing, and tanning. The port is also the location of one of the biggest water desalination plants in the world.
Facilities
Accommodating vessels of up to 167.6 metres (549.9 ft) long with drafts of up to 8.53 metres (28 ft), the port has six main births:- Inner harbour: 3xbirths at Rasif Libya Wharf and Rasif Juliana Wharf, total 494 metres (1,620.7 ft) in length. Can handle roll-on/roll-off, with two dedicated tanker births:
- Rasif Libya, depth of 4.8 metres (15.7 ft)
- Rasif Juliana, depth of 3.1 metres (10.2 ft). An extension buoy can handle vessels to 107 metres (351 ft) with drafts of up to 7.3 metres (24 ft)
- Outer harbor: 3xberths, 778 metres (2,552.5 ft) in length, depth of 8.2 metres (26.9 ft)
Work is underway to add 3000 metres (9,842.5 ft) of additional quay and related facilities.
Access
The two approaches to the port are from the southwest and north. Strong westerly winds during the winter cause heavy seas, that make anchorage in the 0.6 metres (2 ft) tidal range dangerous.Transport access
After the railways developed by the Italians fell into disrepair, the major transport routes to and from the port are either accessed by sea or major dual carriagewayDual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
roads. Air access is via Benina International Airport
Benina International Airport
Benina International Airport serves Benghazi, Libya. It is located in the town of Benina, 19 km east of Benghazi, from which it takes its name. The airport is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the second largest in the country after Tripoli International...
.