Adm. Rabiee: "We haven't stopped providing navigational services in the Canal since the security tensions broke out in the region... and we handle the current challenges with agility"
The British Ambassador: "The fact that major shipping lines are forced to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope is considered a step backwards in light of the increased maritime and environmental risks as well as its lack of navigational services"
The Suez Canal is the beating heart of global trade and the cornerstone of stability for global supply chains together with realizing the goals of globalization.
Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, has discussed ways of cooperation and joint collaboration with Mr. Gareth Bayley, British Ambassador to Cairo, at the SCA’s headquarters at Irshad building in Ismailia Governorate. The meeting was attended by Col. Mark Beynon, Defence Attaché at the British Embassy.
During the meeting, both parties discussed the implications of the security developments in the Red Sea and Bab El-Mandab region on the freedom of navigation through it. The meeting also witnessed discussions on negotiation mechanisms with the British insurance companies to decrease their maritime insurance fees on vessels transiting through the region.
In his speech, Adm. Rabiee emphasized the SCA's keenness on playing its pivotal role in service of global trade and maintaining the stability and sustainability of global supply chains despite the current challenges in the Red Sea and Bab El-Mandab region. H.E., the Chairman, explained that the SCA hasn't stopped providing its services since the outbreak of security tensions in the region, but it has dedicated great efforts to handling the crisis with the utmost agility through achieving direct and effective communication with all the relevant parties, including clients and international maritime organizations, and introducing a bundle of new maritime and logistical services that were not provided before.
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Adm. Rabiee has also underlined that the SCA has witnessed a great leap in developing the waterway's main infrastructure as the southern sector development project has been completed. This project that is considered a strong addition contributing to increasing the margin of navigational safety, minimizing the impact of water and wind currents as well as increasing the Canal’s accommodation capacity by 6 - 8 vessels. H.E. has added that the Suez Canal has taken considerable steps towards the development and upgrading its maritime fleet as it has successfully launched 23 various marine units within the past period including tugboats, speed boats, auxiliary units, ferries, etc.
On his part, Mr. Gareth Bayley, British Ambassador to Cairo, has expressed his appreciation of the friendly relations and long-standing partnership between the United Kingdom and Egypt.
H.E. has also lauded the efforts exerted by the SCA to handle the current challenges, stressing the Suez Canal's strategic importance as the beating heart of global trade and the cornerstone of stability for global supply chains and the global trade system together with realizing the goals of globalization. H.E., the Ambassador, highlighted that the restrictions imposed by the security tensions in the Red Sea region on the freedom of navigation, and the fact that many of the major shipping lines are forced to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope is considered a step backwards in light of the increased maritime and environmental risks as well as its lack of navigational services.
Mr. Bayley has also lauded the serious steps taken by the Egyptian state towards encouraging foreign investment through providing the necessary facilitations and carrying out substantial modifications to the procedural system which is reflected positively in the increased British investments in the field of clean energy and green hydrogen in the Suez Canal's economic zone. The visit included a tour of the New Suez Canal followed by a visit to the Suez Canal Museum.
