Shipping Arabia, October 21, 2026 – Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has received the Top Ro-Ro Carrier 2025 award from Abu Dhabi Ports, part of AD Ports Group. The recognition highlights MOL’s contribution to automotive and project cargo transportation across the region, emphasizing the importance of reliability, port connectivity, and operational efficiency in maritime logistics.
The award recognizes MOL’s role in supporting the movement of vehicles and project cargo through its Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping services. These operations require dependable maritime transportation and coordination with ports to maintain efficient cargo flows and support customer supply chains.
MOL Recognized for Ro-Ro Shipping and Automotive Logistics
The MOL Ro-Ro carrier award reflects the company’s established presence in vehicle logistics and its contribution to regional maritime transportation.
MOL operates a global Ro-Ro shipping network backed by decades of experience in automotive logistics. Through this network, the company provides transportation solutions that support customers moving vehicles and other cargo across international markets.
In announcing the recognition, MOL highlighted the importance of reliable shipping services, strong port connectivity, and operational efficiency for customers involved in automotive and project cargo transportation.
The company also emphasized its continued commitment to dependable maritime transportation solutions that help maintain supply chain continuity.
Strengthening Cooperation with Abu Dhabi Ports
Following the award announcement, MOL expressed appreciation to Abu Dhabi Ports for recognizing its contribution to regional Ro-Ro shipping operations.
The company also reaffirmed its intention to strengthen its partnership with Abu Dhabi Ports in the coming years.
The recognition underscores the role of cooperation between Ro-Ro shipping carriers and port operators in supporting automotive and project cargo movements. Such partnerships are particularly important for maintaining reliable transportation services and efficient cargo handling across regional maritime networks.
For MOL, the Top Ro-Ro Carrier 2025 award acknowledges its contribution to the region’s automotive and project cargo logistics sector while reinforcing its commitment to reliable maritime transportation and continued cooperation with Abu Dhabi Ports.
Shipping Arabia, October 21, 2026 – Pan Marine Group, the Egyptian agent for DFDS, has announced the expansion of the Damietta–Trieste Ro-Ro service with the addition of the vessel Ark Futura. The deployment increases the service frequency from one to two weekly sailings, strengthening maritime connectivity between Egypt and Italy.
The expansion responds to growing demand for the route, which began operations in November 2024. Since its launch, the service has developed into a maritime corridor connecting Egypt with European markets. It also facilitates transit cargo movements through Egyptian territory to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Ark Futura Adds a Second Weekly Ro-Ro Sailing
Under the revised operating schedule, Ark Futura will arrive at and depart from Damietta Port every Monday. The additional sailing complements the existing weekly service, which arrives at Damietta on Thursdays and departs on Fridays.
The expanded Damietta–Trieste Ro-Ro service provides importers, exporters, and logistics operators with more options for scheduling shipments between Egypt and Europe. By increasing sailing frequency, Pan Marine and DFDS aim to accelerate cargo flows and improve logistics efficiency.
The additional vessel also gives customers greater flexibility in coordinating cargo movements across different markets. This is particularly relevant for businesses using the route for imports, exports, and transit shipments destined for Gulf markets.
Strengthening Trade Connectivity Between Europe, Egypt, and the Gulf
The expanded service supports Egypt’s position as a logistics hub and a strategic link for trade between Europe and the Middle East. It provides a maritime connection for European goods entering the Egyptian market, while also facilitating their onward movement through Egypt to GCC countries.
At the same time, Egyptian exporters benefit from a direct maritime gateway to European markets through the integrated DFDS transport network. The connection provides access to a wider range of regional and international markets for producers, exporters, and importers.
By strengthening the link between Damietta and Trieste, the service supports cargo movements in both directions. It also reinforces the role of Egypt as a transit corridor connecting European trade flows with destinations across the Gulf region.
Pan Marine and DFDS Expand Maritime and Logistics Services
The expansion forms part of Pan Marine Group and DFDS’s strategy to strengthen maritime connections between Egypt and Europe. Both companies aim to provide a reliable logistics corridor linking businesses with regional and international markets.
Pan Marine Group stated that the addition of Ark Futura represents an important milestone in the development of its maritime and logistics services. The company emphasized its commitment to providing reliable and flexible transport solutions that improve supply chain efficiency.
The increased sailing frequency is also intended to support smoother cargo movements between markets. Through the expanded Damietta–Trieste Ro-Ro service, Pan Marine and DFDS seek to improve transport flexibility while facilitating trade between Egypt, Europe, and the Middle East.
Shipping Arabia, October 15, 2026 – Egypt and Greece are advancing discussions on proposed Alexandria–Greece shipping links, including Ro-Pax passenger and truck services between Alexandria and Patras and Ro-Ro cargo services between Alexandria and Volos. The two countries are also exploring expanded dry bulk trade and cruise tourism cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The discussions took place during a visit by a senior Greek delegation to Alexandria Port Authority, following the third session of the Egyptian-Greek Joint Maritime Committee held on October 5, 2026. The meeting produced agreements on practical measures to advance maritime cooperation between the two countries.
The visit was held under the directives of Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir. Alexandria Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Ehab Salah received the delegation, which was led by Manolis Koutoulakis, Secretary General for Maritime Affairs and Ports at Greece’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy.
Rear Admiral Hussein El-Geziry, Head of Egypt’s Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector, also attended the visit. He had chaired the Egyptian delegation during the joint maritime committee meetings.
The Greek delegation included the heads of the Patras and Volos port authorities, the Director General of Customs and the scientific adviser to the Secretary General for Maritime Affairs and Ports. Senior Alexandria Port Authority officials also participated in the discussions.
Alexandria–Greece Shipping Links Focus on Ro-Pax and Ro-Ro Services
A central focus of the discussions was the development of maritime connections between Egyptian and Greek ports. Both sides examined opportunities to strengthen shipping, logistics and trade cooperation through proposed services linking Alexandria with Patras and Volos.
The proposed Alexandria–Patras route would operate as a Ro-Pax service, accommodating passengers and trucks. Meanwhile, the proposed Alexandria–Volos connection would focus on Ro-Ro cargo transport.
The two routes form part of efforts to improve maritime connectivity and facilitate the movement of passengers, vehicles and cargo between Egypt and Greece.
In addition, the Greek delegation expressed interest in expanding cargo exchanges with Alexandria Port to include dry bulk commodities. This would broaden the scope of maritime cooperation beyond the proposed Ro-Pax and Ro-Ro connections.
The discussions also considered the development of an integrated logistics corridor connecting Egypt and Greece with their respective trading partners. Such cooperation would bring together maritime transport, logistics services and trade activities within a coordinated framework.
Although the routes remain under discussion, both sides agreed to advance the necessary technical and commercial assessments to support their potential implementation.
Egypt and Greece Explore Eastern Mediterranean Cruise Homeport Cooperation
Cruise tourism formed another major component of the bilateral maritime discussions.
Egyptian and Greek officials examined opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Alexandria Port and Greek ports, particularly by coordinating their roles as cruise homeports in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The proposed cooperation focuses on developing greater integration between ports capable of serving as starting and ending points for cruise itineraries. Both sides discussed how coordinated port activities could support the development of maritime tourism between Egypt and Greece.
They also explored opportunities to establish joint cruise tourism programs aimed at increasing passenger traffic and strengthening maritime tourism connections between the two countries.
The discussions reflect the two sides’ interest in expanding cooperation beyond commercial shipping to include passenger transport and cruise operations.
Greek Delegation Inspects Alexandria Port Facilities
As part of the visit, the Greek delegation conducted an inspection tour of several operational areas and facilities at Alexandria Port.
The tour included the passenger terminal and port berths, with particular attention to the Ro-Ro berths expected to support the proposed maritime connections.
Delegation members also visited the Tahya Misr Multipurpose Terminal to examine the port’s infrastructure, equipment and operational capabilities.
The inspection provided Greek officials with an opportunity to assess Alexandria Port’s available facilities and logistics capabilities directly. It also supported discussions about the technical and operational requirements of the proposed shipping services.
The port visit formed part of the broader effort to translate the outcomes of the Egyptian-Greek Joint Maritime Committee into practical cooperation initiatives.
Technical Meetings to Advance Proposed Maritime Routes
At the conclusion of the visit, both sides agreed to hold additional technical meetings involving specialists from Egypt and Greece.
These meetings will follow up on the joint maritime committee’s outcomes and examine the requirements for implementing the proposed Alexandria–Greece shipping links.
The assessments will cover technical, operational, commercial and logistical considerations associated with the proposed Ro-Pax and Ro-Ro services.
The objective is to move toward implementation through coordinated and carefully assessed steps, while addressing the practical requirements of establishing the maritime connections.
Alexandria Port Authority reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Greek ports and maritime organizations. The authority emphasized the importance of expanding trade and maritime connectivity between Egypt and Greece.
The cooperation also supports Alexandria Port’s development as a regional logistics hub linking markets in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Shipping Arabia, September 23, 2026 – DP World is set to develop new port terminals at Al Rugaylat and Dibba in Fujairah under an agreement with the Fujairah Ports Authority, expanding cargo-handling capacity along the UAE’s east coast.
The developments will add new capacity for containers, general cargo and roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) traffic while creating approximately 700 direct maritime jobs across the two projects.
At Al Rugaylat, the planned terminal will have an annual container-handling capacity of 2.5 million TEUs, alongside capacity for 1.7 million tonnes of general cargo and 190,000 car equivalent units (CEUs) of RoRo cargo annually.
The Dibba development will focus on general cargo, with planned capacity reaching 3.6 million tonnes per year.
The projects will expand the range and scale of port infrastructure available on the UAE’s east coast, complementing the country’s existing maritime and logistics network and providing additional gateways for international trade.
Fujairah’s location on the Gulf of Oman gives its east coast ports direct access to major shipping routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, making the emirate strategically important within the UAE’s wider maritime and logistics network.
DP World said the new terminals will strengthen the UAE’s global connectivity while providing additional infrastructure to support growing cargo flows.
Once developed, the two facilities will add substantial container, RoRo and general cargo capacity to Fujairah while broadening the UAE’s network of maritime trade gateways.
Shipping Arabia, September 22, 2026 – East Port Said Port has received the vehicle carrier AICC HUANGHU at the Suez Canal Automotive Terminal (SCAT), where the vessel is loading 235 vehicles for onward shipment to Aqaba.
The Ro-Ro vessel arrived from Alexandria and will depart for Aqaba following completion of loading operations, highlighting the developing vehicle shipping connection between Egypt’s Mediterranean ports and Jordan’s principal maritime gateway on the Red Sea.
AICC HUANGHU is a specialized vehicle carrier measuring 200 meters in length and 38 meters in beam, with a draught of 9 meters.
The Suez Canal Economic Zone said the call forms part of continued vehicle-handling activity across its ports and the growing use of SCAT for automotive and transit cargo.
Since beginning official operations in November 2025, SCAT has handled seven specialized vehicle carriers carrying a combined 4,735 vehicles. AICC HUANGHU was among the first vessels handled by the terminal and has now returned for another call.
The latest operation demonstrates SCAT’s developing role in Ro-Ro and automotive logistics, while the onward movement to Aqaba reflects the integration of regional maritime routes linking Mediterranean and Red Sea gateways.
SCAT forms part of the wider development of East Port Said’s logistics and cargo-handling capabilities, with vehicle transit operations adding another segment to the port’s growing maritime activity.
