The Suez Canal Authority's Timsah Shipbuilding Company has launched three tugboats and started building five more for the Red Sea Ports Authority in Ismailia. The launch and keel-welding ceremonies were attended by SCA Chairman Admiral Osama Rabie, who emphasized the authority's efforts to expand domestic shipbuilding, meet the needs of the canal and Egyptian ports, and reduce reliance on imported vessels. This move aligns with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's directives to localize marine manufacturing.
The three launched tugboats belong to the Azima class but have different towing capacities. Khedma 1, built for the Damietta Port Authority, measures 18.6 meters long and 6.9 meters wide, with a fully loaded draught of 2.2 meters. It has a bollard pull of 20 tons and a maximum speed of 10 knots. Azima 11, built for the SCA, and Ezz El-Din Younes 2, built for the affiliated Canal Company for Ports and Major Projects, have the same dimensions and draught, with a bollard pull of 12 tons and a maximum speed of 11 knots.
The five new tugboats being built for the Red Sea Ports Authority comprise two with a bollard pull of 70 tons and three with a bollard pull of 20 tons. The construction program aims to modernize towing and pilotage services. This development follows the introduction of two larger tugboats, each with a 90-ton bollard pull, at the South Red Sea Shipyard in Safaga on September 24.
Admiral Osama Rabie stated that Timsah had built 42 marine vessels since 2019, describing the company as "a major industrial hub for maritime manufacturing and logistics." He highlighted that restructuring and diversifying the activities of SCA companies had enabled them to move from losses to profitability. Expanding vessel construction and repair capacity would support domestic demand and improve their ability to compete in regional and international markets.
The Suez Canal Authority has also pursued overseas orders, signing an agreement to export two tugboats with an 80-ton bollard pull to Italy's NERI Group in May. During the launch ceremony, Rabie reviewed repair and maintenance work carried out on three Damietta Port Authority tugboats. Timsah is also repairing and maintaining Misr El-Mahrousa, a 25-ton bollard-pull tugboat belonging to the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Red Sea Ports Authority Chairman Major General Mohamed Abdel-Rahim expressed interest in commissioning additional tugboats and launches from Timsah to meet growing operational requirements at Red Sea ports. Damietta Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Tarek Adly praised the quality of construction and adherence to schedules, highlighting the Azima class' operational advantages. The SCA is also diversifying income sources through vessel construction, repairs, and additional maritime services.
The development of Egypt's maritime fleet is a strategic objective for the Suez Canal Authority. With Timsah's expansion, the authority aims to support domestic demand and improve its competitiveness in regional and international markets. The launch of the three tugboats and the construction of five more mark a significant step towards achieving this goal, while also contributing to the growth of Egypt's shipbuilding industry.
Key points
- The Suez Canal Authority's Timsah Shipbuilding Company has launched three tugboats and started building five more for the Red Sea Ports Authority.
- The development aligns with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's directives to localize marine manufacturing and reduce reliance on imported vessels.
- The Suez Canal Authority aims to support domestic demand and improve its competitiveness in regional and international markets through the expansion of its vessel construction and repair capacity.
