Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, discussed ways of joint cooperation with H.E. Eric Chevallier, Ambassador of France to Cairo. The meeting, held at the Suez Canal Yacht Marina in Ismailia, was attended by Capt. Laurent Seguier, Defence Attache at the Embassy of France in Egypt.
That took place on the sidelines of following-up the transit of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle through the Canal amongst vessels of the northern convoy, and the crew change service provided at the Suez Canal Yacht Marina in Ismailia.
H.E. underscored that the Suez Canal continues to provide its navigational and logistical services around the clock to meet the requirements of its clients through a bundle of new services; most importantly crew change, maritime salvage, ship maintenance and repair as well as waste collection from the transiting vessels and the water ambulance service.
The Chairman of the Authority emphasized that the Suez Canal has sustained its trajectory of development and modernization despite various regional challenges. In this context, he highlighted the successful completion of the Southern Sector Development Project, one of the most recent development projects in the Suez Canal, which has enhanced the navigational safety factor by increasing the Canal’s width by 40 meters from Km 132 to Km 162 (Canal Marking), as well as adding 10 kilometers to the doubled parts within the Small Bitter Lakes. These developments have been carried out in parallel with upgrading the SCA’s fleet with the addition of tugboats, speech boats, and auxiliary units.
On his part, the French Ambassador reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Suez Canal to the sustainability of global supply chains, expressing his hope for improved regional security conditions and their positive impact on restoring navigation through the Canal to its normal rates.
H. E., the French Ambassador, also commended the notable upgrade in the maritime services provided by the Suez Canal Authority, and praised the fruitful cooperation with the French shipping line CMA CGM. Furthermore, he lauded the high-quality services extended to French tourist yachts, whether during their Canal transit or through berthing, mooring, and refueling services at the Suez Canal Yacht Marina in Ismailia.