Suez Canal Authority
During a joint press conference with European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, Egyptian Foreign Minister added, "We discussed ensuring freedom of navigation in accordance with the rules of international law, and we held constructive and frank discussions on ways to enhance economic and investment relations between Egypt and the European Union."
He also directed officials to maintain the highest quality standards, keep to the established project timelines, enforce occupational safety and health requirements, and ensure ongoing training for technical staff.
Rabie further indicated that the authority is actively advancing its ambitious strategy to develop the navigational channel and upgrade its maritime fleet, ensuring the highest standards of maritime safety and security.
Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, announced that the giant container ship CMA CGM VENDÔME transited the canal on Tuesday on its maiden voyage. The vessel was part of the northbound convoy, traveling from France to Malaysia.
Located 170 metres from the existing floating bridge, the new structure is designed to ease congestion and improve mobility between the two cities, with a combined capacity of up to 25,000 vehicles per day across both bridges.
In a recorded statement, Amr Lashin noted that Aswan currently hosts more than 150 floating hotels, including eight operating behind the High Dam. He added that the presence of a specialized maintenance and repair center in the area is expected to encourage further tourism investment and support the growth of the sector in Upper Egypt.
Rabie noted that this represents an increase compared to the same period last year, when 1,243 vessels with a total net tonnage of 47 million tons transited the canal, generating revenues of $368 million.
The Suez Canal Authority is closely monitoring the environmental conditions in the area where the vessel is located and confirms that there are currently no environmental risks or fuel leaks. This is particularly significant given that the cargo vessel FENER is carrying a shipment of salt and operates on light diesel fuel rather than heavy fuel oil, which considerably reduces potential environmental impact. Additionally, the vessel’s relatively small fuel tank capacity further limits environmental risk.
The SCA’s maritime rescue teams responded swiftly to a distress call from the vessel’s master in the early hours of Wednesday, after the ship developed a dangerous list of about 10 degrees to starboard and was at risk of sinking.
The incident took place in the western anchorage area north of Port Said, approximately five miles west of the canal’s northern entrance in the Mediterranean Sea.
The vessel measures 45 meters in length, 10 meters in width, with a draft of 4.5 meters and a total displacement of 620 tons. It has a maximum speed of 12 knots and accommodation capacity for 29 personnel. Construction will take place entirely in Japan using advanced technologies, under the supervision of the Japanese engineering and construction company NK, and in compliance with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements.
The massive vessel, operated by the French shipping line CMA CGM, measures 399 meters in length, 54 meters in width, and has a draft of 13.5 meters. With a net tonnage of 177,000 tons and a capacity of 17,859 containers, it is the largest container ship to transit the canal in the past two years, the statement added.
Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, said that navigation through the canal is going smoothly in both directions and was not affected by the grounding of the KOMANDER oil tanker that took place on Tuesday.
Since its official launch in May 2025, Antipollution Egypt has serviced 2,516 vessels and safely collected 6,600 cubic meters of waste, underscoring the project’s early success and operational efficiency.
Suez Canal Chairman (SCA) Admiral Osama Rabie honored Captain Walaa Hafez for breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest underwater dive carried out by a quadriplegic . Hafez stayed for more than 6 hours at the depth of 5 meters, according to a statement issued by the SCA on Sunday.
Last year, President Sisi externed Rabie’s term for one year. On August 17, 2019, President Sisi appointed Rabie as Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), succeeding Admiral Mohab Mamish.
The president also issued a decree appointing Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa Megahed as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Suez Canal Authority.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Admiral Ossama Rabiee, and CEO of the South Red Sea Shipyard Company, Mostafa El-Degeishy.
Rabie stated: “We call on all shipping lines to seriously consider evaluating their sailing schedules and the possibility of gradually resuming the transit of some of their vessels through the region.”
Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, received on Monday, The Argentine Ambassador to Cairo Holger Martinsen.
