Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, and Mr. Guy Platten, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Shipping "ICS", discussed the latest developments in the current situation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab region, with the participation of Mr. Keiji Tsuchiya, Vice President of the Japanese Shipowners Association, via video conference.
The meeting comes within the framework of fruitful cooperation between the two sides, and aims to exchange visions and closely learn about the impressions of vessels owners and operators regarding developments in the region, as well as their impact on future navigation plans through the Suez Canal.
At the outset of the meeting, Adm. Ossama Rabiee stressed the Authority's keenness to achieve direct and effective communication with organizations and actors within the maritime community to discuss the positive indicators of the current situation in the Red Sea region towards the gradual return of stability to the region.
Adm. Rabiee pointed out the start of the actual operation of the Suez Canal Duplication Project within the scope of the Southern Sector Project to receive global trade movement. This comes in light of the Suez Canal's constant preparations to keep pace with the rapid developments in the maritime transport industry, and to achieve the highest rates of navigational safety for global trade movement.
On his part, Mr. Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping "ICS", emphasized that the positive indicators witnessed in the Red Sea region push towards the gradual return of confidence to major shipping lines to return to transit through the region and the Suez Canal again, noting that it may take a few months for things to return back to normal.
The Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping “ICS” highlighted that the maritime community is closely following the situation in the region and anticipating the outcomes of political and security developments, as the safety of vessels, crews and cargo remains at the top of everyone's priorities.
The Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping “ICS” praised the efforts exerted by the Suez Canal Authority and its keenness to work hard and continuously to serve the movement of global trade and achieving sustainability for global supply chains.
Mr. Keiji Tsuchiya, Vice President of the Japanese Shipowners Association, expressed his appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Suez Canal Authority in achieving effective communication with international chambers of shipping to follow up on the positive indicators the Red Sea region is witnessing, which led to some vessels changing their course and returning to transit through the Suez Canal again.
The Vice President of the Japanese Shipowners Association indicated that the return of major shipping lines requires more positive indicators and evidence towards stabilizing the situations and the return of safe navigation to the region on a permanent basis.
