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Al-Ahram Weekly

Egypt inks deal with Chinese shipbuilder to add two bulk carriers to national fleet - Economy

Egypt's state-owned National Navigation Company has signed an agreement with China's Hantong Shipyard to build two Kamsarmax-class dry bulk carriers, the Ministry of Industry and Transport said on Tuesday. The vessels, each with a deadweight of 82,000 tonnes, are scheduled for delivery in September and November 2028. Mohamed Suleiman Metwally, managing director of the National Navigation Company, and Meng Chengjun, chairman of Hantong Shipyard, signed the contract in the presence of Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Industry Minister. The deal is part of Egypt's plan to modernize its commercial shipping fleet and strengthen its role as a regional logistics hub. The ministry said the new ships will be built to meet international environmental and technical standards, with fuel-efficient hulls, MAN B&W engines delivering 7,490kW, and advanced emission-reduction systems. Each ship will also be fitted with modern navigation systems. The vessels will measure 229 metres in length, with a beam of 32.26 metres and a draft of 14.5 metres. El-Wazir said the agreement continues Egypt's cooperation with Hantong, which also built two similar ships—the Wadi El-Muluk and Wadi El-Arish—delivered in 2023 and early 2024, respectively. Those vessels were part of a broader push to renew the national fleet, with the Wadi El-Muluk unveiled at Alexandria Port during the inauguration of the Tahya Misr terminal. The new order will bring the total number of vessels in the company's fleet to 18, up from 12 three years ago. According to the ministry, this represents a 54 percent fleet renewal and forms part of a strategy to increase national capacity to transport strategic goods, including grain and oil. El-Wazir said the ministry aims to expand the commercial fleets of state-owned shipping firms, including the National Navigation Company, Arab Bridge Maritime, Cairo Ferries, and the Egyptian Tanker Company, to a combined 36 vessels by 2030. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: