Positioning local boatbuilding for the export market
Negotiations underway for continued boat supply
EGYPT: With two tugboats under construction for the export market, and the contract for another two signed, the Suez Canal Company (SCA) is currently negotiating to build a additional tugs as well as a barge and yacht.
“The SCA targets transforming into a regional hub for building marine units under the slogan of Made in Egypt at world-class quality,” says Adm Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority.
The contract is for two 80-ton bollard-pull TRACTOR-class tugboats equipped with bow propellers, designed by Robert Allen to the Italian Neri Group under the supervision of the Italian classification society RINA.
“Continuing cooperation with NERI Group of Italy is a new step proving our national shipyard’s potential to export to European markets,” added Rabiee. The initiative is in line with presidential directives to localise maritime manufacturing.
A signing ceremony was held this week in Safaga where the contract was signed by Mostafa El-Dougishy, CEO of the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats, and Piero Neri, Chairman of the Italian NERI Group.
The specifications of both tugboats are identical; 30 m. in length, 12.8 m. in breadth, 4.9 m in depth, a maximum speed of 12 knots and a bollard-pull capacity of 80 tons.
Negotiations are underway to build two additional 90-ton bollard-pull tugboats as well as a barge equipped with a 200-ton crane and a 35-metre yacht.
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Rabiee had a meeting with Neri to follow-up the developments of building the two 90-ton bollard-pull AZM-class RAstar 3200-W ASD tugboats currently being built at the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats for the Italian NERI Group in light of the contract between both parties signed mid-October of last year.
“Made in Egypt at World-Class Quality”, underscoring in that regard that continuing cooperation with NERI Group of Italy is a new step proving our national shipyard’s potential to export to European markets,” said Rabiee highlighting that successful private sector partnerships would help the shipping industry meet the operational needs of Egyptian ports and exports.
The SCA Chairman added that the Suez Canal Authority is steadily working to maximise the potential of its subsidiary shipyards and companies, creating a new avenue for accessing foreign markets and export marine units with the leading-edge technology.
The Chairman of Italy’s Neri Group, expressed his commitment to strengthening ties with the Suez Canal Authority, aiming to boost future business by building more tugboats through the activation of a clause in the original contract to construct two additional 'Azm'-class tugboats with a 90-ton bollard pull. In the meantime, the two parties are negotiating the construction of a barge equipped with a 200-ton crane and a 35-metre tourist yacht.
The Chairman expressed confidence that the Egyptian shipyard’s workmanship and commended the infrastructure development at the South Red Sea Shipyard (SRSS), which aligns with the future vision of expanding the partnership to achieve both parties' mutual goals.
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