Egypt and China Sign Contract for Two New Ships to Boost Maritime Transport: Egyptian-Chinese Collaboration Drives Fleet Expansion

Egypt has recently signed a contract with China to construct two new ships, including one of the latest clean dry bulk ships, in order to expand its maritime fleet. The goal is to reach 31 ships by 2030. The Minister of Transport, Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel Al-Wazir, presided over the signing of the contract between the National Shipping Company, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Transport, and the Chinese shipyard “Hantung.”

The contract was signed by Mohamed Suleiman, Managing Director of the National Shipping Company, and Ming Xingjun, Chairman of Hantung. The specifications for one ship include a tonnage of 82 thousand tons, a length of 229 meters, a width of 32.26 meters, and a draft of 14.5 meters. The two ships will be constructed in accordance with the most recent environmental standards and are expected to be delivered in 2026.

“Hantong” is a well-known shipyard that specializes in constructing clean dry bulk ships. With an impressive track record of building 148 vessels, including 49 currently under construction, totaling 12.6 million tons, they are an ideal choice for this project. The Minister emphasized the significance of this development for Egyptian maritime transport, stating that it represents a significant advancement in restoring the fleet’s strength.

With the addition of these two new ships to its fleet, Egypt’s capacity will surpass one million tons annually. This will enhance its ability to transport strategic goods like wheat to Egypt more effectively. Over 40% of its current fleet strength will have been renewed within just three years as a result