Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Admiral Osama Rabie, inspected the Pilots’ Marina in Ismailia on Sunday as part of a wider tour to ensure the smooth flow of navigation in the Suez Canal.
Rabie reviewed the readiness of pilotage crews and marine teams responsible for guiding ships through the vital waterway.
During the visit, he stressed the importance of raising preparedness across all operational sites linked to canal traffic, including marine units and human resources. He described the Pilots’ Marina as a key hub for the navigation system, responsible for switching pilot crews aboard ships transiting the canal in both directions.
The SCA chief also directed that strict maritime safety procedures be followed during the boarding and disembarking of pilots. He called for intensive training of marine crews to handle emergency situations through both theoretical and practical exercises.
Later, Rabie met members of the authority’s Crisis Management Committee at the SCA Crisis Management Centre. He instructed them to hold regular meetings and maintain high levels of readiness across all facilities, marine units and technical teams connected to the canal’s navigation channel.
He also emphasised the need for effective coordination with state authorities, crisis management rooms in the canal governorates, and the Strategic Command Centre affiliated with the Egyptian Cabinet to ensure integrated national crisis management.
Over the past two days, Rabie also inspected several SCA facilities alongside senior officials and board members.
On Saturday morning, he visited the berthing area of marine units operated by the Movement Department to review ongoing construction works aimed at upgrading existing docks and building new ones.
During the tour, Rabie observed formations of marine units including rescue tugs, escort tugs and launches. He also reviewed tugboat operational schedules and checked work shifts and the technical condition of vessels.
He stressed the importance of maintaining the readiness of marine units and conducting regular drills to ensure equipment efficiency and enhance the capabilities of marine crews.
The tour also included an inspection of construction works on new marine berths supervised by the SCA engineering department. A new berth with three U-shaped sections, measuring 300 metres in length and nine metres in depth, is being built to accommodate new rescue and escort tugs.
Another berth, consisting of two L-shaped sections with a depth of four metres and a total length of 170 metres, is under construction to receive new marine launches. Two existing berths are also being upgraded as part of a wider development plan for the marine units docking area.
Rabie also reviewed the deployment of security personnel from the Suez Canal Security and Guarding Company, urging them to remain vigilant and committed to their duties.
On Friday, the SCA chairman visited the authority’s Hospital No. 6 in Ismailia to assess medical services and the readiness of ambulance and emergency units.
He inspected operating theatres, intensive care facilities and the availability of medical and nursing staff. Rabie stressed the need to improve healthcare services and ensure the hospital’s ability to respond quickly to emergencies.
He concluded the visit by speaking with ambulance and emergency staff, praising their role in saving lives and responding effectively to critical situations.
