The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced the arrival of the integrated petroleum services vessel Fakhr 1, the first of its kind in Egypt, marking a significant milestone in the Authority’s strategy to diversify income sources and strengthen its maritime fleet.
The vessel, built at Ningde Tai Jinzhou Yuajin shipyard in China, completed a 33‑day nonstop voyage before joining the fleet of El‑Temsah Shipbuilding Company, a subsidiary of the SCA. Measuring 64.8 meters in length and 16 meters in width, with a draft of 5 meters, Fakhr 1 can accommodate a crew of 60.
The vessel is designed for diving operations and geo‑survey exploration, supporting offshore petroleum and gas activities. Chairman Admiral Osama Rabie emphasized that Fakhr 1 represents Egypt’s first geo‑survey vessel, enabling marine soil investigations and petroleum exploration while reducing reliance on foreign‑owned units.
The vessel will be deployed in Abu Rudeis, Red Sea, under contract with Petrobel, a subsidiary of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, with operations scheduled to begin in July.
The reception ceremony was attended by senior SCA officials and executives from affiliated companies, including El‑Temsah Shipbuilding, Canal Mooring & Lights Company, and Canal Rope Company. Admiral Rabie highlighted that discussions are already underway to build a second petroleum services vessel, reinforcing Egypt’s ambitions in energy exploration.
