Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, held an extensive meeting with representatives of 20 major shipping lines and shipping agencies. The meeting was attended by Admiral Ashraf Atwa, SCA Deputy Chairmen, and Admiral Ahmed Khaled, SCA Deputy Chairmen, along with several SCA Board Members and senior officials, at the Authority’s headquarters in Irshad Building, Ismailia.
The meeting comes as part of a series of regular meetings held by the SCA with all key stakeholders across the maritime community, including international organizations, major shipping lines, international chambers of shipping, shipping agencies, and other relevant entities.
At the outset of the meeting, Admiral Rabiee expressed his pride in and appreciation for the vital role played by representatives of shipping lines and shipping agencies, describing them as national partners and a crucial link in maintaining effective communication with shipping lines and major shipping companies.
Admiral Rabiee emphasized the elevated level of readiness and preparedness across the Canal’s operational system, noting that the Canal is safe, navigation is proceeding smoothly, and the SCA pilots continue to demonstrate the highest levels of performance and readiness.
The SCA Chairman further highlighted that flexible pricing policies and effective communication with clients have resulted in the return of a significant number of maritime services operated by major shipping lines to transiting through the Suez Canal.
The Chairman expressed his constant readiness to discuss ways to support clients, stressing that the Authority has witnessed significant development in the modernization of its various navigational and maritime services to meet the needs of all transiting vessels under both normal and emergency situations.
Admiral Rabiee expressed his interest in receiving feedback and proposals regarding the new maritime and logistical services via the evaluations available on the Authority’s website, thereby ensuring the highest standards of quality and operational efficiency.
The SCA Chairman noted that geopolitical challenges in the region have adversely impacted the sustainability of global supply chains and have directly driven up industry-related indicators, such as fuel prices, freight rates, and insurance premiums, thereby placing pressure on the global maritime transport system.
SCA Chairman emphasized that the SCA’s Crisis Management Center is monitoring regional developments around the clock and assessing their impact on the canal navigation through its Economic Research Unit at the Planning Department.
The meeting addressed regional developments and their effects on navigation schedules and plans, and explored ways to strengthen future cooperation.
Rear Admiral Ehab El Banan, chairman of Clarkson Shipping Agency Company, expressed appreciation for the Suez Canal Authority’s commitment to consulting and exchanging views with shipping lines and maritime agencies. He noted that this collaborative approach aims to develop a unified vision and make decisions that serve mutual interests.
He also voiced hope for stability in the region, which would allow canal navigation to recover and grow, especially since the canal remains the most cost-effective and shortest maritime route.
Mr. Adel Ellameey, a member of parliament and chairman of the Port Said Navigation Chamber, thanked the Suez Canal Authority for its crisis management efforts and praised the quality of its services, especially ship maintenance and repair. He suggested exploring the expansion of navigational services through a partnership between the Authority and private shipping agencies, which would enhance the competitiveness of the services offered.
Mr. Adel Ellameey also put forward a proposal for the Authority to host a global maritime conference bringing together all key players in the maritime community, helping to promote the Authority's various services.
Meanwhile, Tarek Zaghloul, CEO of CMA CGM Group in Egypt and Sudan, expressed pride in the strategic partnership between the French shipping line CMA CGM and the Suez Canal. He confirmed that the line has continued transiting the Canal since the Red Sea tensions began, with 60 of its vessels passing through in September, underscoring its commitment to using the Canal as the shortest and fastest route.
On a similar note, Mr. Hany El Nady, A.P. Moller-Maersk Group Representative in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) stressed the strength of the bilateral relations with the Suez Canal Authority as a strategic partner and a vital waterway providing its services to global trade, highlighting the rise in the number of vessels and maritime services transiting through the Suez Canal. He said that the number of Maersk's transits have increased from 8 during September of 2025 to 67 during September of this year, expecting that the number of yearly transits will reach 278 in the future.
Whereas Mr. Mohamed El-Alfy, General Manager of Gulf Agency Company, underscored that the current period is witnessing positive reactions in light of the return of numerous maritime services affiliated to major shipping lines. He expressed his anticipation of increased traffic rates through the Suez Canal in the upcoming period.
Mr. Ashraf Sami, General Manager of Branches at Yang Ming, lauded the SCA's efforts in developing its infrastructure and modernizing its maritime fleet as well as elevating the efficiency of its human capital. He also highlighted the serious consideration of Yang Ming to return to transiting through the Suez Canal in the near future.
On his part, Mr. Abd El-Aziz Nabil, General Manager of the maritime agency INCHCAPE, conveyed OOCL's intent to return to transiting through the Suez Canal, expecting the execution of an experimental transit during the upcoming month of October.
In this regard, Mr. Wassim Shukri, Director of the Canal region at the maritime agency WILHELMSEN, praised the SCA's efforts and its keenness on upgrading the maritime services provided to Canal-transiting vessels; including mooring, ship maintenance and repair services, pointing out the maintenance and repair works conducted on RED ZED at Suez Shipyard Co. at the highest standards.
Mr. Hany El-Sallamy, General Manager at COSCO, emphasized that COSCO is considering increasing its voyages through the Canal after one of its affiliated container ships successfully transited a few days ago, highlighting in this regard that three additional ships affiliated to the shipping line are scheduled to transit through the Canal within the upcoming period.
In addition to that, the meeting witnessed the participation of the maritime agencies SPHINX, LETH, NOATUM MARITIME, ARKAS, FENMAR, MEDLEVANT, Damanhour Shipping Agency and Assiut Shipping Agency, as well as representatives from the shipping lines ONE and EVERGREEN.
At the end of the meeting, Adm. Rabiee stressed the Suez Canal's readiness and its ability to handle difficult situations and emergencies as well as meet its clients expectations and requirements.
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