The Suez Canal Authority said on Sunday that the offshore petroleum services vessel Fakhr 1 has begun maiden voyage from China ahead of joining the authority’s marine fleet, as Egypt seeks to expand maritime services and diversify revenue sources.
SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said that the vessel had departed after construction was completed at the shipyard in Ningde Tai Jinzhou Yuajin, China.
Fakhr 1 is owned by a consortium comprising Timsah Shipbuilding Company, the Canal Company for Ship Mooring and Lighting, and the Canal Ropes Company. It will become the fourth vessel in Timsah Shipbuilding’s petroleum services fleet, joining Aman, Ahmed Fadel and Badr.
The vessel is designed using advanced fuel-efficient technologies and is equipped for offshore diving operations. It also features a DP2 dynamic positioning system, enabling it to maintain its position at sea without dropping anchor.
Measuring 64.8 metres in length and 16 metres in width, with a draft of 5 metres, Fakhr 1 can accommodate up to 60 crew members.
The new vessel reflects the authority’s strategy to strengthen and modernise its marine fleet while expanding the capabilities of its affiliated companies, Rabie said.
The SCA aims to diversify revenue streams by increasing its participation in the oil and gas services sector, particularly through specialised marine units equipped with the latest technologies, he added.
The vessel has successfully completed sea and dock trials at the Chinese shipyard in the presence of representatives from TimsahShipbuilding and the American Bureau of Shipping. Preparations to receive and commission the vessel will begin immediately upon its arrival in Egypt later this month, Rabie said.
