Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Vice admiral Ossama Rabie said that Egypt has achieved an unprecedented breakthrough in tugboat manufacturing, thanks to support and due attention paid by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
Rabie, in statements to Channel 1 of the Egyptian TV on Thursday, said that Egyptian-built tugboats feature specifications that surpass those of many countries worldwide.
“Egypt began by establishing a shipyard dedicated to tugboat construction, in cooperation with South Red Sea Shipyard (SRSS) company, to produce two yachts aimed at boosting tourism in the region,” Rabie added.
The SCA has launched a project to build new tugboats to serve the authority, enhance the efficiency of navigation through the canal, and strengthen Egypt’s maritime fleet, under directives of president Sisi, Rabie said.
He added that collaboration with the SRSS has led to the establishment of Misr Tugboats Factory, which aims to construct ten tugboats, each with a bollard-pull capacity of 90 tons.
The SCA has so far received four of the new tugboats, with the remaining units scheduled for delivery in stages; two every three months, Rabie went on to say.
The SCA aims to attract more foreign investment and open new export markets by showcasing all types of tugboats manufactured in Egypt on its official platform, Rabie said.
He highlighted the praise of Italy’s Neri Group, one of the world’s leading maritime companies, of the Egyptian-made tugboats, which boast world-class specifications and a towing capacity of 90 tons.
These vessels are capable of escorting and towing ships, performing rescue operations, and extinguishing fires, Rabie said, adding that the tugboats are equipped with high-powered water cannons and advanced systems that enable them to support offshore drilling operations.
The Neri Group has signed an agreement with the SCA to purchase two tugboats, with plans to acquire two more in the near future, Rabie said, describing the deal as a milestone, marking the first-ever export of Egyptian-built tugboats.
He underscored Egypt’s readiness to manufacture more tugboats, adding that serious steps are underway to establish a second factory for the production of additional Egyptian vessels.
