Admiral Osama Rabiee Discusses Cooperation with French Ambassador

Admiral Osama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), and H.E. Eric Chevallier, the French Ambassador to Cairo, discussed avenues for joint cooperation at the Suez Canal Yacht Marina in Ismailia, in the presence of Naval Colonel Laurent Segier, the French Defense Attaché.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle's transit through the canal as part of the North Convoy, during which the Suez Canal Yacht Marina facilitated a maritime crew change service. Admiral Rabiee emphasized that the Suez Canal continues to provide navigational and logistical services around the clock, meeting client needs through an updated service package that includes crew changes, maritime salvage, ship maintenance and repair, marine waste removal, and maritime ambulance services.

The Chairman further clarified that the Suez Canal has not halted its development and modernization efforts despite regional challenges. He highlighted the success of the Southern Sector Development Project in enhancing navigational safety by widening the canal by 40 meters (from km 132 to km 162) and increasing the double-lane zones by 10 kilometers in the Small Bitter Lakes. This development coincided with the modernization of the Authority’s fleet of tugboats, launches, and auxiliary units.

For his part, the French Ambassador underscored the strategic importance of the Suez Canal for the sustainability of global supply chains, expressing his hope for regional stability to restore canal traffic to its normal rates. He praised the significant evolution of the maritime services provided by the SCA and commended the fruitful cooperation with the French shipping line "CMA CGM," as well as the distinguished services provided to French tourist yachts during their transit or stay at the Ismailia Marina.