Beijing: Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir witnessed the National Navigation Company's (NNC) handover of two new vessels, 'Wadi Al-Nil' and 'Wadi Al-Qamar,' from China's New Hantong Shipyard during his visit to China. The shipyard is recognized globally for constructing dry bulk carriers.According to State Information Service Egypt, the vessels are part of Egypt's initiative to modernize its commercial fleet to boost its regional and international market competitiveness. This aligns with the government's strategy to establish Egypt as a key regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade.Present at the handover ceremony were Mohamed Soliman Metwally, Managing Director of the National Navigation Company, and Ming Chengjun, Chairman of Hantong Shipyard. El-Wazir emphasized that the delivery signifies the strengthening Egyptian-Chinese partnership, especially in transport.El-Wazir highlighted the cooperation in various sectors, including port development, logistics, railways, green mass transit, d igital transformation, smart and green ports, shipbuilding, and the growth of Egypt's commercial fleet. He noted the cooperation began with the KAMSARMAX dry bulk carrier 'Wadi Al-Arish,' delivered in January 2024.In April 2024, agreements were made for the construction of 'Wadi Al-Nil' and 'Wadi Al-Qamar,' each with an 82,000-ton capacity. A subsequent contract in June 2025 included two more vessels of similar size, expected by 2028, making a total of five vessels under the cooperation program.El-Wazir urged speeding up the delivery of two additional vessels, 'Wadi Al-Natrun' and 'Wadi Al-Alaki,' to 2027 instead of 2028. He proposed establishing a specialized shipyard in Egypt for repairs, modeled on New Hantong Shipyard.The minister stressed Egypt's goal to expand its commercial fleet to 40 vessels by 2030, all owned by Ministry of Transport companies, to carry more of the nation's foreign trade and increase Egyptian-flagged vessels on international routes.Mohamed Soliman Metwally stated the deliver y is a significant milestone for the National Navigation Company's fleet modernization, reflecting its commitment to international standards. With these additions, the fleet now consists of 16 vessels, with two more expected in 2028, pushing the modernization rate to 54%.'Wadi Al-Nil' and 'Wadi Al-Qamar,' both KAMSARMAX dry bulk carriers, each have a deadweight capacity of 82,000 tons, a length of 229 meters, a beam of 32.26 meters, and a draft of 14.5 meters. They feature advanced technologies for operational and fuel efficiency, ranking among the newest in Egypt's commercial fleet.