Khaled Mahmoud
The port of Tobruk occupies a distinguished strategic location on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, making it throughout history one of the most important ports in the region and a vital link for maritime trade between East and West. This coastal city is characterized by its unique location and picturesque natural curves. In the past, it was linked to the five Greek cities in the Green Mountain to the west and the city of Alexandria to the east. Historical accounts indicate that immigrants from the island of Crete called Tobruk “Anti Pyrgos”, meaning “the city opposite the city of Pyrgos” in their original homeland, due to the similarity of its location to their city.
The port of Tobruk constitutes the closest point of maritime contact with the countries located east of Libya and has been linked to the movement of global trade in the Mediterranean basin since ancient times.
The port of Tobruk hides within its folds a rich history that has witnessed the admiration of travelers and the conflicts of great powers. In 1883, the German traveler “Cotivor” visited the port of Tobruk and was impressed by its strategic location to the extent that he described it as “capable of controlling the Mediterranean Sea.”. The French leader Napoleon Bonaparte resorted to it during his wars with Britain in the nineteenth century, where he used it as a haven for his fleet to avoid the naval blockade imposed by Britain on France. It is said that Bonaparte used the port of Tobruk to camouflage and mislead the British fleet, in a skillful military tactic.
During the Ottoman era, the port of Tobruk witnessed the construction of a lighthouse for ships, which enhanced its importance as a vital port in the Mediterranean basin.
During World War II, the city of Tobruk witnessed one of the fiercest battles, as the famous German commander “Desert Fox” Erwin Rommel besieged it for 241 days, and it was subjected to the most violent land and air invasion. These battles left devastating effects, as 106 naval vessels sank in the Gulf of Tobruk as a result of the bombing.
Perhaps the most famous ship that sank in that war is the ship “San Giorgio”, which has become a symbol of that era, as a resort and hotel in Tobruk were named after it.
Today, years after those bloody events, the port of Tobruk is witnessing a major revival in maritime trade. In 2024, it received about 90 commercial ships and vessels loaded with wheat, barley, construction materials, and other basic commodities.
The port of Tobruk witnessed a qualitative leap by transforming it into a free zone, which opened new horizons for maritime trade in Libya. This transformation enhances the port’s position as a vital center for international trade, as free zones are characterized by flexibility and fluidity in trade exchange procedures, and the ability to accommodate large quantities of goods from all over the world.
The importance of the port of Tobruk is not limited to being a free zone, but it is also one of the most important export points for crude oil in Libya, through the ports of Al-Hariga and Brega.
Despite these advantages, the port of Tobruk faces some challenges in receiving large ships. According to one study, the depths of the bay range between 16 to 20 meters, and decrease as we go inland to its commercial port, where the depths are about 7 meters. This means that the port currently receives ships with a small draft, and cannot receive the giant ships that we see in the Suez Canal or major ports in the world. There are also some environmental challenges, foremost of which is pollution caused by the sewage and ballast water left by oil tankers.
This pollution is a major source of concern for the authorities and environmental organizations, as it threatens fish stocks and the marine environment in the Gulf.