The Port of Alexandria  is the main port in Egypt, dating back to 1900 BC when the Pharaohs established a port west of Pharoon and Pharous Islands.  This port was called “Rakouda” and was located north of Pharous Island,  known as “Ras El Teen” region now.  With 2 ports and more than ¾ of Egypt’s foreign trade passing through it, Alexandria is considered the second most important city in Egypt.

The area of the port measures 2300 meters long and 300 meters wide with docks of varying depths and more than one entrance.  The 2 ports are located eastwards of Alexandria and is called the Eastern Port and the other is westward of Alexandria and is called the Western Port with a t-shaped peninsula separating them.  Unlike the Eastern port, the western port is used for actual navigation and thus it is called “Alexandria Port”.
 

The harbour is protected by marine rocks and 2 break waters while the width of the entrance is about 400 meters and there are two fairways in between as follows:

The port is divided into two sections separated by coke (used for making steel) quays and breakwater.  The first part is called the port or inner dock while the second is known by the dock or outer part with an area of 600 hectare.  The first section is devoted to general cargo trade and the second for petroleum or bulk cargoes.  Pilotage is obligatory for vessels entering or exiting the port.