The opening of the İzmir-Aydın and İzmir-Kasaba (Turgutlu) railway lines accelerated trade and increased its volume, making it clear that the port infrastructure needed to keep up with this growth. Accordingly, on November 18, 1867, the construction and operation of the İzmir Quay were granted for 30 years to three British merchants: J. Charnaud, A. Barker, and G. Guarracino. These British merchants, who received the concession, established the İzmir Quay Company and signed a contract with the French Dussaud brothers’ firm, which had previously constructed the Port of Marseille. While the construction of the quay was ongoing, the concession changed hands in 1869, and the firm belonging to the Dussaud brothers took over the concession.
The quay construction, covering the area from Sarıkışla (the present-day Konak Square) to Tuzlaburnu (the present-day Alsancak Port), was largely completed by 1876. A significant increase in efficiency was achieved in loading and unloading operations in a short time.
With the completion of the quay construction, İzmir not only gained a modern port infrastructure but also saw the emergence of the coastal strip known today as Kordon, which gives the city its unique identity. The area extending along this coastline, between the customs house (present-day Konak Pier) and Pasaport Pier, was protected from waves by a breakwater, making it İzmir’s first modern port.
Panorama of the Port of İzmir, Guillaume-Gustave-Berggren, 1893