The CEO of the global shipping line explained that the Cape of Good Hope route is suboptimal due to the lack of adequate navigational services, necessitating increased caution. He expressed his hope for the restoration of permanent stability in the Red Sea region, which would facilitate the return of MSC shipping vessels to the Suez Canal.
This came during the meeting held by Lieutenant General
Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, with the CEO of the shipping
line to discuss ways of joint cooperation, via video conference technology, in
the presence of a number of members of the Authority's Board of Directors, and
a delegation of representatives of the shipping line in Egypt, including: Tarek
Fahmy, CEO of MSC Egypt, Karim Fahmy, Director of Operations Development for
MSC in Egypt, Ezz El-Din Salem, Director of Operations in Egypt, and Ehab
Fathy, Director of Suez Canal Region Operations in Egypt.
The meeting addressed the impact of recent Red Sea and Bab
al-Mandab developments on global navigation and reviewed MSC's Suez Canal
shipping policies.
In his address, Lieutenant General Osama Rabie affirmed the
Suez Canal Authority's dedication to maintaining effective communication with
its customers and meeting the demands of the current situation. He stressed the
need for joint efforts to develop mechanisms that serve mutual interests. He
also expressed his desire to continue discussions with MSC, exchange
perspectives, and clarify the situation, with the goal of making positive
decisions that would lead to a phased resumption of navigation in the region.
He clarified that the Suez Canal has continued to provide
its full range of navigational and maritime services since the Red Sea crisis
began. Moreover, it has expanded its services to include new offerings such as
marine rescue, ship repair and maintenance, marine crew replacement, and marine
ambulance services.
The head of the Authority affirmed that the Suez Canal is continuing its strategic development of the navigation course, noting the successful completion and operationalization of the southern sector development project, which significantly improves navigational safety for large ships transiting the canal.