Egypt Daily News – On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, the National Navigation Company, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Transport, signed a contract with China’s Hantong Shipyard for the construction of two new large dry bulk vessels of the KAMSARMAX class.
The contract was signed by Mohamed Suleiman Metwally, Managing Director of the National Navigation Company, and Mr. Meng Chengjun, Chairman of Hantong Shipyard, in the presence of Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport.
New Agreement Between Hantong Shipyard and National Navigation Company
The minister stated that the contract is part of implementing the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to transform Egypt into a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transshipment trade, and to restore the strength of the Egyptian commercial fleet, which is a powerful economic tool and a key pillar of the national economy.
He added that this marks a continuation of the fruitful cooperation with Hantong Shipyard, one of the world’s largest shipyards specializing in the construction of this type of vessel, known for its ability to carry out projects according to the latest global designs and technologies.
He noted that the two vessels will be built in line with the latest environmental standards, both current and future, and will feature advanced hull designs aimed at reducing fuel consumption. Each vessel will be equipped with a main engine manufactured by MAN B&W, delivering a maximum continuous power output of 7,490 kW.
The ships will also be outfitted with advanced emission-reduction systems to meet current and future international environmental regulations, ensuring high performance and energy efficiency. In addition, they will have state-of-the-art navigation systems that will enable optimal operational efficiency for vessels of this type.
Each vessel will have a deadweight tonnage of 82,000 tons, a length of 229 meters, a width of 32.26 meters, and a draft of 14.5 meters. Delivery of the ships is scheduled for September 2028 and November 2028.
Boosting Egypt’s Commercial Fleet
The minister emphasized that this contract is part of a broader strategy by the National Navigation Company to expand and modernize its commercial fleet. Over the past two years, the company launched the vessel “Wadi El Molouk,” a KAMSARMAX vessel with a capacity of 82,000 tons. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi raised the Egyptian flag on the ship during the official opening of the “Tahya Misr” multi-purpose terminal at Alexandria Port in mid-June 2023.
This was followed by the delivery of “Wadi Al-Arish,” another KAMSARMAX vessel of the same capacity, in January 2024. Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly raised the Egyptian flag on that ship during the launch of the first voyage of the Egypt-Italy RoRo shipping line at the end of November 2024.
Just three months after receiving that vessel, the company signed a contract to build two additional vessels of the same class and technology, marking a major step forward in the modernization of Egypt’s commercial fleet as directed by the president.
Six New Vessels in the National Navigation Company Fleet
With this latest contract, the National Navigation Company has added six new vessels to its fleet over the last three years, replacing or upgrading nearly 54 percent of its total fleet. The company now operates 18 vessels in total.
This expansion is part of the Ministry of Transport’s ongoing strategy, in coordination with the National Navigation Company, to strengthen the national commercial fleet and solidify Egypt’s leadership position in maritime transport in the Middle East.
Plan to Expand to 36 Commercial Vessels by 2030
The minister also noted that the Ministry of Transport is working toward a strategic goal of expanding the commercial fleet of its affiliated companies to 36 vessels by the year 2030. These companies include the National Navigation Company, Arab Bridge Maritime, Cairo Ferry Company, and the Egyptian Tanker Company. The aim is to increase the national fleet’s capacity to transport strategic goods such as grain, petroleum, and passengers between Egypt and other countries around the world.
The signing ceremony was attended by Major General Ashraf El-Louzy, Assistant Minister of Transport for Authorities and Companies; Dr. Amr Mostafa, Chairman of the Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport; and Engineer Mohamed Fathy, Maritime Transport Advisor to the Minister of Transport.
