Alexandria: Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie affirmed that the Authority has been keen to address various challenges through a balanced approach based on implementing flexible policies and an ambitious strategy aimed at transforming it into one of the leading major economic entities in the transportation and maritime services industry, by localizing the maritime industry and expanding its maritime services system. Rabie made the remarks during his participation in the World Maritime Day celebration, organized by the Maritime Transport Sector of the Ministry of Transport under the theme 'From Policy to Practice: Enhancing Maritime Excellence' in Alexandria Governorate. The event was attended by Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir, Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled, and a large number of officials from the Arab and regional maritime transport industry.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Rabie said that addressing these complex developments requires proposing and implementing unconventional solutions that contribute to enhancing the operational efficiency of maritime institutions and increasing their ability to confront the unprecedented challenges facing the maritime community. He noted that the disruptions and changes that have emerged on the international scene in general, and in the trade community in particular, have demonstrated the importance of the Suez Canal in securing global supply chains and reinforced its leading position worldwide. They have also proven beyond doubt that there is no sustainable alternative route to the Suez Canal, given the canal's highest levels of maritime security and safety, in addition to its highly efficient auxiliary maritime services.
He stressed the importance of bringing together members of the maritime transportation and shipping community to exchange views on current developments and challenges amid the profound geopolitical changes that have occurred on the international and regional scenes in recent years. These changes have directly affected global trade and supply chains and extended their repercussions to navigation through the Suez Canal. He sent a reassuring message that the canal is safe, navigation is proceeding regularly, its services are operating efficiently, and its pilots are performing at the highest levels of efficiency and readiness.
The Suez Canal Authority chairman pointed out that navigation reports showed an improvement in canal traffic rates. During August, 1,358 vessels transited the canal, with a total net tonnage of 68.3 million tons, generating revenues of $567.1 million, compared with 1,070 vessels with a total net tonnage of 45.2 million tons and revenues of $326 million in August 2025. This represents increases of 27% in the number of vessels, 51.1% in net tonnage, and 56.7% in revenues.
He added that the Suez Canal has made steady progress toward diversifying its sources of income by working to localize the marine vessel industry through developing shipyards and affiliated companies, as well as establishing partnerships with the private sector to achieve integration and open up to international markets to market their products, including various types of marine vessels. He also highlighted the Suez Canal's success in introducing a package of maritime services aimed at meeting the needs of the Authority's partners and shipping-line customers while their vessels transit the canal. Among the most prominent services are shipbuilding and repair, ship refueling, marine ambulance services, crew exchanges, and other services.
Rabie also touched on the Authority's efforts to develop a number of Arab and African ports. He explained that the Authority participated in the development of Sirte Port and its reopening after 14 years of closure. He added that the Authority's Maritime Training and Simulation Academy had conducted a simulation of Saudi Arabia's Ras Al-Khair Port, while negotiations were underway to simulate two ports in Namibia and train groups of pilots and tugboat captains from the country at the academy.