Syrian Ports

Shipping Arabia, October 14, 2026 – Syria’s General Authority for Borders and Customs (GABC) has held an extensive meeting at Latakia Port to review maritime operations, development plans and key operational challenges. The discussions focused on improving port services, advancing digital transformation and strengthening coordination among the authority’s affiliated entities.

The meeting was chaired by Qutaiba Badawi, Head of the General Authority for Borders and Customs, with the participation of directors from the authority’s central departments and directorates.

Officials examined current operational conditions, identified challenges affecting various departments and discussed measures to improve institutional coordination and service efficiency across Syria’s maritime sector.

Port Operations and Maritime Service Development

A major focus of the meeting was the performance of Syrian ports and the development of services provided by the authority’s maritime entities.

Discussions covered port operations, Coast Guard activities, maritime transport and the Syrian Shipping Agencies Company. Officials reviewed opportunities to improve service delivery, increase operational efficiency and address challenges affecting these activities.

The meeting also examined the requirements of the Maritime Training and Qualification Establishment, particularly its role in preparing qualified personnel for the maritime sector.

Participants emphasized the importance of developing the workforce needed to support improvements in maritime services and strengthen the capabilities of institutions operating under the authority.

These discussions formed part of a broader review of how the authority’s various departments and affiliated organizations can coordinate their activities more effectively.

Digital Transformation and Administrative Modernization

Digital transformation was another central topic, with officials reviewing projects to modernize administrative and operational systems across the authority.

The discussions addressed measures to accelerate official correspondence, simplify working procedures and improve the efficiency of administrative processes.

Participants also examined the standardization of administrative forms and legal procedures to establish more consistent working practices across departments.

In addition, the meeting addressed staffing requirements and improvements to the working environment, reflecting the authority’s focus on ensuring that its departments have the personnel and organizational resources needed to perform their responsibilities.

Performance Monitoring and Service Quality

During the meeting, Badawi emphasized the importance of adopting clear action plans supported by measurable key performance indicators (KPIs).

He called for systematic monitoring of assigned tasks, closer follow-up on implementation and measures to overcome obstacles that could delay progress.

Badawi also directed the authority’s departments to prioritize improvements in service quality while strengthening confidence among customers and investors.

Furthermore, he stressed the importance of institutional working practices and closer integration among the authority’s different departments and affiliated entities.

The meeting brought together the operational, administrative and training priorities of Syria’s maritime sector, with an emphasis on coordinated development, improved performance monitoring and more efficient service delivery.

Source: General Authority for Borders and Customs

Shipping Arabia, October 11, 2026 – Latakia Port cargo throughput reached approximately 3.8 million tons during the first nine months of 2026, covering general and containerized cargo. The Syrian port also received 532 vessels between January and September, according to figures released by the General Authority for Borders and Customs.

The port continues to maintain round-the-clock maritime and cargo handling operations, with vessels arriving and loading and unloading activities taking place across its berths and storage yards.

Latakia Port Cargo Throughput and Container Volumes

General cargo accounted for approximately 2 million tons of the total volume handled during the reporting period. Meanwhile, container traffic reached around 219,000 containers, carrying nearly 1.8 million tons of cargo.

Together, these figures brought Latakia Port cargo throughput to approximately 3.8 million tons through the end of September 2026.

Containerized cargo and general cargo operations continued throughout the reporting period, supported by ongoing loading and unloading activities at the port’s operational facilities.

Vessel Calls Reach 532 Across Different Maritime Activities

Latakia Port received 532 vessels during the first nine months of 2026, reflecting activity across several maritime service categories.

General cargo vessels accounted for 250 calls, while container ships represented another 247 calls. The remaining traffic included 22 vessels arriving for repair work and 13 passenger ships.

The breakdown highlights the variety of maritime activities taking place at the port, including commercial cargo handling, vessel repair services and passenger vessel operations.

Continuous Operations and Port Efficiency

Alongside its cargo handling and vessel reception activities, Latakia Port continues to focus on maintaining operational efficiency and improving service readiness.

Technical and operational teams are working to ensure the smooth movement of cargo and accelerate handling procedures across the port’s berths and storage areas.

These efforts include maintaining continuous operations, strengthening the port’s operational readiness and improving the efficiency of services provided to vessels and cargo operators.

The ongoing activities aim to support Latakia Port’s role in maritime transportation and commercial trade, while ensuring the continued movement of goods through one of Syria’s maritime gateways.

Source: General Authority for Borders and Customs

Shipping Arabia, October 9, 2026 – Syria is advancing Latakia Port infrastructure upgrades and operational improvements aimed at strengthening cargo-handling capabilities, accelerating cargo movements and simplifying administrative procedures. The ongoing rehabilitation program includes new port equipment, improvements to operational facilities and measures to facilitate trade-related transactions.

Tamim Sawaghi, Deputy Head of the General Authority for Borders and Customs for Port Affairs, conducted an inspection visit to Latakia Port to review ongoing development projects and assess operational performance.

The visit focused on infrastructure rehabilitation, cargo movement efficiency and procedures designed to improve services for traders and transport operators. Officials also reviewed measures to facilitate cargo reception, unloading and transportation within the port.

Latakia Port Infrastructure Upgrades and Cargo-Handling Equipment

During the inspection, Latakia Port Director Abdul Hamid Al-Wahb briefed Sawaghi on the rehabilitation and equipment modernization activities currently underway.

The projects include upgrading port infrastructure and introducing new machinery to support cargo-handling operations. These improvements aim to strengthen the port’s operational capacity and increase the efficiency of cargo reception, unloading and transportation.

The addition of handling equipment forms part of efforts to improve service quality and facilitate cargo movements through the port. The rehabilitation work also addresses the operational requirements of port facilities and cargo-handling areas.

Officials reviewed the organization of cargo yards and other port facilities during the visit. This assessment focused on maintaining orderly operations and improving the movement of goods through different sections of the port.

The General Authority for Borders and Customs is overseeing these improvements as part of its efforts to develop the performance of Syria’s maritime ports.

One-Stop Service System Aims to Accelerate Port Procedures

Administrative efficiency represents another important component of the operational improvements at Latakia Port.

During the inspection, Sawaghi reviewed the port’s one-stop service system and its role in simplifying procedures for traders and transport operators.

The system aims to improve coordination between the departments responsible for processing port-related transactions. By bringing together relevant administrative services, the initiative seeks to reduce processing times and facilitate the completion of required procedures.

Greater coordination between port departments is also intended to improve the flow of transactions associated with cargo movements. These measures complement the infrastructure and equipment improvements currently underway.

The inspection therefore addressed both the physical handling of cargo and the administrative processes that support commercial operations.

Strengthening Syria’s Maritime Port Operations

The inspection visit forms part of the General Authority for Borders and Customs’ ongoing field supervision of maritime port operations and rehabilitation activities.

Through these visits, the authority aims to monitor progress, assess operational requirements and support improvements in the quality of port services.

At Latakia Port, the current development efforts focus on improving cargo-handling efficiency, organizing operational areas and reducing administrative processing times.

Together, these measures are intended to strengthen the port’s ability to accommodate cargo movements and provide more efficient services to shipping-related businesses, traders and transport operators.

The authority emphasized that developing maritime port performance and improving service quality remain important objectives in supporting trade activity and meeting the needs of Syria’s economic sectors.

Source: General Authority for Borders and Customs – Syria