Egypt Daily News – The Ministry of Transport issued a press release today, calling on the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, the heads of Egyptian export councils, as well as all exporters, importers, and businesspeople to take advantage of the significant benefits offered by the “Ro-Ro” shipping line.
This maritime route facilitates the transportation of agricultural produce, perishable vegetables, and Egyptian products to Italy and onward to Europe, and vice versa, using refrigerated and dry trucks. The line, considered a “green corridor” between Egypt and Italy, helps reduce shipping costs and transit time while enhancing Egypt’s position as a central logistics hub between Europe and Africa.
The ministry emphasized that the Ro-Ro service strengthens trade opportunities and supports Egyptian exports of industrial and agricultural products by improving market access to Europe. Additionally, it contributes to creating both direct and indirect job opportunities for administrative staff in transport and shipping companies, as well as shipping agents. Moreover, it is expected to generate over 2,000 job opportunities for Egyptian truck drivers.
This initiative aligns with the Egyptian government’s efforts to boost exports to European and global markets to support the national economy. It follows the Ministry of Transport’s launch of the Ro-Ro shipping line between Damietta Port and the Italian port of Trieste, with its first voyage departing on November 28 last year to increase Egypt’s export volume to European countries.
The statement also highlighted that the Ro-Ro shipping line between Egypt and Italy operates on a reciprocal basis in both ports regarding port fees and operational incentives. Port fees have been significantly reduced from $26,050 to $3,250 per trip (an 88% discount). Additionally, a 35,000 m² area has been allocated for the project, with all necessary services provided. The Damietta Port Authority has also issued a government guarantee letter to Egyptian customs, while the Ministry of Finance has supplied an X-ray inspection device for the project.
To facilitate seamless integration between the two ports, the Damietta Port Authority has developed applications that integrate with the Italian port community platform. Additionally, an automated system has been prepared to receive truck data arriving from the Italian port platform, including cargo type, weight, and detailed shipper information. Egyptian customs have also been linked with their Italian counterparts through the development of operational applications at Damietta Port, enabling the exchange of official documents such as health and food safety certificates. Furthermore, files are now exchanged in a globally recognized format approved by the United Nations Trade and Transport Division. Mobile applications have also been developed to read electronic seals using RFID technology to verify their status (intact/damaged).
The Ro-Ro service also features enhanced customs cooperation between Egypt and Italy. The European Union has granted funding for a customs twinning project, formalized through a memorandum of understanding between the customs authorities of both countries. A customs circular for the Egypt-Italy Ro-Ro line has been issued, and electronic seals for refrigerated containers have been approved, featuring an alarm system that alerts authorities in case of container tampering, temperature fluctuations, or humidity changes, ensuring cargo integrity while allowing for streamlined customs inspections.
The Ministry of Transport’s statement further noted that following Egypt’s accession to the Vienna Convention of 1968, as per Presidential Decree No. 329 of 2023, all obstacles related to license plates and fees have been eliminated. A governmental memorandum of understanding on road transport has been signed to regulate vehicle movement along the route. The issue of license plates has also been resolved, with a dedicated team from the Ministry of Interior assigned to facilitate quick plate changes at a designated facility within Damietta Port. Italian fire safety specifications have also been adopted.
Additionally, road toll fees for foreign trucks have been significantly reduced. Previously, imported trailers were charged $300, and exported trailers $350, under Decision No. 278 of 2017. These fees have now been lowered to $100 per truck. Coordination with immigration authorities has also enabled foreign truck drivers to exit Egypt, provided they hold a valid European Union visa. Foreign vehicles are also allowed to enter and exit Egypt, provided their owners obtain a prior entry/exit visa. Furthermore, the Maritime Safety and Inspection Authority has approved truck drivers’ presence on the Ro-Ro vessel, with a maximum of 11 drivers permitted per voyage.
Regarding transported goods, Damietta Port has been added to Ministerial Decree No. 682 of 2007, which established specialized customs committees for fabric and textile clearance. Previously, customs clearance for these goods was only available at Alexandria, Port Said, Sokhna, and Cairo Airport, which will now allow for more efficient operations on the Ro-Ro route.
The Ro-Ro shipping schedule between Damietta and Trieste operates weekly as follows:
- The vessel arrives at Damietta Port at 3:00 PM every Thursday from Trieste.
- It departs Damietta for Trieste at 10:00 AM every Friday, carrying Egyptian goods.
- The vessel arrives in Trieste, Italy, at 10:00 AM every Monday.
- It departs Trieste back to Damietta at 6:00 PM.
- Egyptian products arriving at Trieste will be transported to Rotterdam, Netherlands, via a dedicated freight train. From there, goods will be distributed by road to various cities in the Netherlands, the UK, and Belgium.
