A 5.8% increase in the number of transiting vessels, a 16% increase in cargo tonnage, and an 18.5% rise in revenues compared to the first half of the previous fiscal year.

Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority SCA held an extensive meeting with representatives of 20 shipping lines and agencies, in the presence of Admiral Ashraf Atwa, Vice Chairman of the Authority, a number of members of the Authority’s Board of Directors and some Stockholders influential figures in the maritime community, at the Authority’s headquarters in the Guidance Building in Ismailia Governorate

The series of periodic meetings

This meeting is a continuation of the series of periodic meetings held by the Authority with the aim of enhancing consultation and continuous coordination with its clients regarding sailing plans and schedules during the coming period in light of the stability of the situation in the Bab al-Mandab and Red Sea region.

At the beginning of the meeting, Admiral Osama Rabie was keen to thank the representatives of the agencies and shipping lines for their active participation in strengthening partnership and cooperation relations with the Suez Canal, and for their constructive work to serve the maritime transport industry.

The return of all shipping lines in light of the positive data

The head of SCA emphasized  that conditions are now strongly conducive to the return of all shipping lines in light of the positive data that encourages the return to sailing on one of the most important basic routes for international navigation through Bab al-Mandab via the Suez Canal, as it is the best route for sustaining global trade between East and West.

He  added that current indicators suggest an improvement in Suez Canal revenues, especially with the return of some shipping lines to cross the canal as a direct result of the stabilization of conditions in the Red Sea region.

The canal's navigational waterway development strategy

Admiral Rabie reviewed the latest developments regarding the canal's navigational waterway development strategy, and the efforts to develop navigational services and raise the level of maritime safety and security, which was achieved through the implementation of the project to expand and double the southern sector, and the introduction of a package of new navigational services

Ensure the efficiency of global supply and trade chains

On the other hand  Admiral Ashraf Atwa, Vice Chairman of the Authority, pointed to the importance of holding this periodic meeting because of the direct interaction it achieves with the actors in the international maritime community. He stressed that the stability of the security situation in the Red Sea region makes the return of shipping lines to cross through the canal an urgent necessity to ensure the efficiency of global supply and trade chains.

The canal's readiness to receive the return of ships

Dr. Bahaa Badr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arabian Gulf Maritime and Trade Company and agent of "EVERGREEN LINE", affirmed that all the efforts exerted by the Suez Canal Authority related to the continuous development of the waterway and the introduction of new maritime services, as well as horizontal expansion in more than one direction, remain appreciated by all clients He also noted the agency's commitment to providing periodic reports to clients on the stability of the situation and to confirming the canal's readiness to receive the return of ships and the expected trade traffic for 2026.

Promotional policies of SCA towards restoring all shipping lines.

Admiral Mohamed Abdel Qader, head of the  Suez and Red Sea Navigation Chamber praised the successive developments in the Authority’s activities and its marketing and promotional policies towards restoring all shipping lines.
He dedicates that the return of one of Maersk's shipping services to cross again through the Red Sea and Suez Canal region represents a strong message of reassurance that the situation in the Red Sea region has become completely safe for navigation and will be an incentive for the return of other shipping lines.

Mr. Adel Lamei, Chairman of the Port Said Chamber of Shipping, also praised the efforts made by the Authority in all sectors, and suggested organizing a global conference to send reassuring messages to customers, calling for the continued provision of incentives and discounts and the announcement of new facilities targeting specific types of ships.

Renewing incentive and discount publications 

In this context, Osama Rabie commented on this proposal, stressing that the Authority has already provided incentives and renewed several maritime publications, including one related to providing a 15% discount for container ships with a tonnage of 130,000 tons or more (loaded and empty), noting that the Authority is currently studying the provision of additional options and incentives for some types of ships

Mr. Amr El-Shafei, Director of Operations at CMA CGM Group, praised the Authority for announcing early when renewing incentive and discount publications because of its vital role in enabling shipping lines to build their strategies and determine sailing schedules that extend for periods that may reach six months, he suggested studying the provision of additional incentives linked to the number of passing ships to encourage lines to make an intensive return to the canal
Related : CMA CGM U-turn Three lines return to circumnavigate Africa, avoiding Suez

Developing navigational services

In the same context, Mr. Ehab Atta, representative of the "ONE" agency, confirmed that providing attractive incentives and developing navigational services, along with efforts to develop the maritime fleet, will play a pivotal role in accelerating the pace of ships returning to pass through the canal at their normal rates as they were before the Red Sea crisis.

Mr  Ehab Fathi, the operations manager of the shipping line "MSC", agreed with him and expressed his support for the idea of ​​providing new incentives to encourage major shipping lines to return to crossing through the canal, stressing in this regard the importance of the Authority continuing its efforts towards adopting an effective communication policy with all customers to motivate them to return in light of the stability of the situation in the region.

 The significant increase in transit costs via the Cape of Good Hope 

Meanwhile, Mr. Hani El-Salamouni, representative of the "COSCO" agency, confirmed that major shipping lines are fully aware that there is no sustainable alternative to the Suez Canal especially given the significant increase in transit costs via the Cape of Good Hope route, he explained that the logistical arrangements for changing the route may take some time, expressing his optimism that these lines will return soon thanks to the efforts made by the Suez Canal Authority.

The return of transit the Suez Canal 

For his part, Mr. Hani Al-Nadi, representative of the A.P. Moller-Maersk group of companies in the Middle East and North Africa, confirmed the return of one of the group's shipping services to transit the Suez Canal This confirms the depth of the partnership between the two sides and is an important step towards a full return, which gives a positive indication to all shipping lines of the improvement in conditions, hoping that the coming period will witness more positive developments and more experiences and transit trips

Related : Maersk’s MECL service returns to trans-Suez route

Source : Press - Release received by Maritime Tickers

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