Sokhna: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli Thursday inspected the Red Sea Container Terminal (RSCT) Terminal 1 at Sokhna Port, marking the official launch of the terminal's commercial operations. During the visit, the premier witnessed the arrival of the CMA CGM IRON vessel that belongs to the global shipping line CMA CGM, coming from the Port of Beirut carrying 13,000 containers, a step regarded as a significant milestone in the port's comprehensive development journey.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the launch of the terminal comes one month after the successful commencement of trial operations at the terminal, which is managed by a consortium including Hutchison Ports, CMA CGM, and COSCO Shipping. Madbouli, during the inspection tour, was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel el Wazir and Chairman of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) Walid Gamal Dien.
Taking part in the visit were Governor of Suez Tarek el-Shazly, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie, and a number of senior transport and port officials. International partners were also represented by Clemence Cheng, the Managing Director and Regional Director for Europe and Egypt at Hutchison Ports; Christine Cabau, the CEO of CMA Terminals; Zhu Tao, the Chairman of COSCO Shipping; and Kaho Wong, the CEO of the Red Sea Container Terminal.
During the tour, the prime minister visited the terminal's control room, where he was briefed by Kaho Wong on the facility's operational mechanisms. Kaho highlighted the room's role in controlling the terminal's six giant ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, which are capable of handling ultra-large container vessels. These cranes are essential for accelerating container handling cycles and enhancing overall performance efficiency.
The premier also reviewed the operation of 18 automated rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes functioning autonomously within the yards. These cranes utilize intelligent systems to identify and organize container locations, minimizing human error and boosting the terminal's operational capacity. Madbouli got first-hand information about the technical capabilities of the terminal, which is distinguished by being fully automated. The facility relies on advanced digital systems and smart technology for both STS and RTG crane operations.
The infrastructure includes a sophisticated Terminal Operating System (TOS) for real-time tracking of container movement, alongside GPS and RFID tracking technologies. Centralized control rooms and environmentally friendly technologies have been integrated to reduce carbon emissions and maximize energy efficiency throughout the terminal's operations.
The tour concluded with an inspection of the new central administrative building for Sokhna Port. The facility covers an area of 12,000 square meters across three floors and houses 65 administrative offices and 21 service rooms. The building is equipped with dedicated spaces for electrical and mechanical systems, 10 information technology rooms, a medical clinic, and several meeting facilities, including a major conference hall, three meeting rooms, a crisis management room, and a mosque.