Egypt’s Sisi reviews Suez Canal shipbuilding projects, pushes local manufacturing

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi reviewed navigation traffic through the Suez Canal during the 2025/2026 fiscal year and directed continued efforts to localise marine unit manufacturing to meet domestic demand and support exports, according to a presidential statement on Sunday.

During a meeting with Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, and Mostafa El Dougishy, Chairman of the South Red Sea Shipyard Company, Sisi reviewed progress on launching new marine units.

Sisi stressed the need to expand local manufacturing to serve the Suez Canal, Egyptian ports, and the inland water transport sector, while opening export markets in partnership with the private sector.

The president also called for maintaining high-quality standards, adhering to project timelines, implementing occupational safety and health requirements, and ensuring continuous training for technical personnel.

The meeting further reviewed developments at two fibreglass factories operated by the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats, a partnership between the Suez Canal Authority and the South Red Sea Shipyard Company. Sisi was also briefed on the construction of several fibreglass boats, including the completion of hulls for three cruise launches serving maritime and Nile tourism.

Discussions also covered progress on building 12 REZK-class deep-sea fishing vessels using the latest global technologies, alongside the manufacturing of a 60-passenger river bus for Cairo Governorate.

Sisi also reviewed construction progress on the 90 ton bollard pull Azm class marine tugboats, stressing the importance of complying with all quality and safety standards.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English