Egypt launches new tugboats as part of Suez Canal fleet modernisation drive

Egypt has launched two new tugboats, AZM 3 and AZM 4, as part of the Suez Canal Authority’s (SCA) fleet modernisation programme and efforts to localise marine industry production, the authority said on Wednesday.

The new vessels are part of a series of ten tugboats being built for the SCA, following the delivery of AZM 1 and AZM 2 earlier this year. Each tugboat is 32 metres long, 13.5 metres wide, with a draught of 6 metres, a towing capacity of 90 tons, and a top speed of 12 knots.

SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said Egypt’s shipbuilding plant in Safaga has drawn foreign interest for potential export deals, underscoring growing confidence in locally produced vessels under the “Made in Egypt” brand.

The Red Sea Shipyard Company, which builds the vessels, is expanding its infrastructure with a new administrative building, paint plant, and storage facilities. Rabie added that AZM 5 and AZM 6 are expected to be launched before the end of 2025.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser