Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), and Mr. Rolf Habben Jansen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hapag-Lloyd, discussed ways to strengthen future cooperation during a meeting held via video conference.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Anders Boenaes, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Hapag-Lloyd; Mr. Juan Pablo Richards, Senior Managing Director of Region South Europe; Eng. Marwan El-Sammak, Chairman of Hapag-Lloyd Egypt; Dr. Fathy Abdel Bary, Director of SCA Planning and Research Department; and Dr. Hossam Abdel Karim, Deputy Director of the SCA Planning Department.
The meeting comes as part of ongoing coordination between the two sides, following the resumption of Suez Canal transits by a number of Hapag-Lloyd’s liner services.
Discussions focused on prospects for future cooperation between the SCA Maritime Training and Simulation Academy and Damietta Alliance Container Terminals (DACT), also known as “Tahia Misr 1,” at Damietta Port, particularly in the field of maritime pilot training. Hapag-Lloyd is a key investor in the Damietta terminal.
At the outset of the meeting, Admiral Rabie stressed that the return of major shipping lines to the Suez Canal represents the optimal choice and the most appropriate decision, particularly in light of rising fuel prices and the lack of other equally sustainable alternative routes.
The SCA Chairman expressed his aspiration for all Hapag-Lloyd liner services to resume transiting the Canal in the coming period, emphasizing the Authority’s readiness to provide transiting vessels with a comprehensive range of maritime and logistics services.
Admiral Rabiee further noted that direct engagement with Hapag-Lloyd’s senior management opens up new avenues for joint coordination and the exchange of expertise in new areas of cooperation, particularly given the shipping line’s interest in expanding its investments and strengthening its presence in the Egyptian market.
For his part, Mr. Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, expressed his satisfaction with the resumption of the company’s transits through the Suez Canal. He affirmed that the Canal would remain the attractive route whenever circumstances permit, expressing his hope that favorable conditions would continue to prevail, paving the way for the return of operations.
Hapag-Lloyd CEO also expressed his willingness to further strengthen cooperation with the SCA by establishing a joint working group to explore investment opportunities and develop new proposals that serve the mutual interests of both parties.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anders Boenaes, Hapag-Lloyd’s COO, explained that the gradual resumption of transits through the Suez Canal was already underway, with three liner services having resumed passage. He added that further services operating on the Far East trade route are expected to return in the coming period.
Mr. Juan Pablo Richards, Senior Managing Director of Region South Europe, Hapag-Lloyd, reaffirmed both parties’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through consultations on available investment opportunities. He also commended the Suez Canal’s ability to navigate successive challenges without compromising its comprehensive development strategy for the waterway and its maritime fleet.