H.E. Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, met with Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with the aim of discussing developments in the current situation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb region, as well as discussing mechanisms of cooperation and joint action to reduce the effects of the crisis on global supply chains and maritime freight traffic.

The meeting, which was held via video conference, is the first since the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization took office at the beginning of this year, and the meeting comes as a continuation of the SCA's efforts to communicate with all active parties in the international maritime community.

At the outset, H.E Admiral Ossama Rabiee congratulated Mr. Arsenio Dominguez on assuming his new position as Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, wishing him success in dealing with the critical challenges facing the maritime transport market.

SCA Chairman expressed his aspiration for a continued cooperation and joint coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the resulting initiatives and recommendations that are in the interest of the international maritime community, especially initiatives aimed at preserving the environment and reducing harmful carbon emissions of vessels,

stressing that the current situation threatens to exacerbate the volume of harmful carbon emissions as vessels consume more fuel when they take alternative routes and sail for longer distances and periods of time than usual.

Admiral Rabiee added that the Suez Canal achieves savings in time and distance compared to alternative routes, which contributes to reducing fuel consumption by rates ranging from 10 to 90%, as well as the resulting reduction in harmful carbon emissions, noting in this regard that the Suez Canal contributed to reducing carbon emissions by 55.4 million tons during 2023, achieving a saving in fuel consumption of 16.9 million tons.

SCA Chairman stressed that navigation in the Canal is regular and has not stopped at all, even for a single day, since the outbreak of the crisis, as the Suez Canal continues to provide its navigation services normally, in parallel with the SCA's continued efforts to support its clients in order to reduce the impact of the current situation on them.

Also, Admiral Rabiee reviewed the package of navigational and maritime services provided by SCA, which includes, in addition to pilotage services, Bunkering services, ship repair and maintenance services at SCA shipyards, marine ambulance services, marine salvage services, pollution control, and other services that the Canal-transiting vessels may need in normal and emergency circumstances,

pointing out in this regard that the Suez Shipyard Company, affiliated to SCA, carried out maintenance and repair works of the dry bulk carrier  "ZOGRAFIA" after it was attacked in the Red Sea.

For his part, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), affirmed his keenness to strengthen joint cooperation relations with the Suez Canal Authority, appreciating the efforts made by the Authority in establishing effective communication with all concerned parties of the maritime transport market which is deemed as a essential approach to identify the needs, services and guarantees needed by ship owners and operators to ensure safe passage through the Suez Canal.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) explained that the current situation in the Red Sea region impose many challenges on the global trade movement and the maritime transport market, in addition to their negative effects on the Suez Canal and the ports in the region.

Dominguez stressed that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) supports freedom of navigation and calls for calm in the Red Sea region, as the IMO is also working to provide full support for the Suez Canal by sending a clear message to all its members that navigation in the Suez Canal is still open to everyone, especially in light of the logistical and security challenges faced by vessels which resort to going around the Cape of Good Hope, in addition to the environmental challenges posed by the Cape route as an unsustainable route for navigation traffic due to its lack of essential services.

Source: Suez Canal Authority

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	Issue 88 of Robban Assafina (Nov./ Dec. 2023)