Egypt has recently signed a contract with China to build two new ships, including the latest clean dry bulk ship, in order to expand its maritime fleet. The goal is to reach a fleet of 31 ships by the year 2030. The signing of the contract was overseen by Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel Al-Wazir, the Minister of Transport, who emphasized the importance of this agreement in revitalizing the commercial fleet sector.
One of the ships will have a total tonnage of 82 thousand tons, a length of 229 meters, a width of 32.26 meters, and a draft of 14.5 meters. These ships will be built in compliance with the latest environmental standards and are expected to be delivered by the year 2026.
Hantung, a Chinese shipyard known for its expertise in building clean dry bulk ships, was chosen as the partner for this project. The company has built 148 ships and currently has 49 ships under construction, with a total tonnage of 12.6 million tons. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in Egypt’s efforts to strengthen its commercial fleet and increase its shipping capacity.
The addition of these two new ships will bring the total number of ships in the fleet to 16, with an annual transportation capacity exceeding one million tons. This growth will help ensure that Egypt can transport strategic goods like wheat into its ports efficiently and effectively. In just three years, more than 40% of the fleet’s capacity will have been renewed, marking a major leap forward in fortifying Egypt’s maritime industry.
