Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt accelerates marine industry localisation with new tugboats, fishing vessels, and yachts
SUEZ - In a move to strengthen Egypt’s position in the global maritime industry, Vice Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, conducted an inspection tour at the Egypt Tugboat Manufacturing Plant in Safaga this week. The facility is a joint venture between the Suez Canal Authority and the Red Sea South Shipyard Company, highlighting Egypt’s commitment to localizing marine industries and fostering public-private partnership.
During his visit, Vice Admiral Rabie reviewed the progress of several ambitious projects: eight new Rastar 3200-W tugboats with a 90-ton bollard pull, four state-of-the-art deep-sea fishing vessels, a 38-meter luxury yacht, and two uniquely designed launches, all being built to international standards at competitive costs. This effort, guided by the directions of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, aims to meet domestic demand, encourage exports, and create new jobs for Egyptian youth.
Highlighting the plant’s achievements, Vice Admiral Rabie emphasized, “The Egypt Tugboat Manufacturing Plant is achieving the difficult equation of building world-class marine units at competitive prices within record timeframes, opening new markets for exports and attracting foreign currency.”
Construction is advancing rapidly, with the third and fourth “Azm” tugboats set to be launched in early October, following the successful commissioning of “Azm 1” and “Azm 2.” Meanwhile, work progresses on assembling the hulls of four deep-sea fishing vessels—part of a planned fleet of twelve, modeled after the vessel “Rizk 1.”
"Rizk 1" is now preparing for her maiden voyage on the high seas off Western Australia, thanks to a new partnership with the Irish company Atlantic Dawn Group. Together, they target a catch of 4,000 tons of pelagic fish in international waters, marking a milestone for Egypt’s expanding fishing sector.
The tour also included a visit to the Egypt Yachts construction site, where Vice Admiral Rabie urged project teams to speed up the final stages so operations can begin next year as scheduled.
Additional developments at the Red Sea South Shipyard include the construction of a new three-story administrative building, a state-of-the-art paint plant, and expanded workshop space—all designed to support Egypt’s vision of becoming a regional hub for shipbuilding and marine technology.
Mr. Mostafa El-Degishy, Chairman of Red Sea South Shipyard, detailed the swift progress on all fronts, confirming that the initial pair of deep-sea fishing boats will be launched in December, with subsequent vessels to follow every four months.
Vice Admiral Rabie concluded, “This plant embodies effective national collaboration and partnership with the private sector, ensuring Egypt’s ongoing development, expanding local job opportunities, and establishing our reputation in global maritime markets.”