Shipping Arabia, October 7, 2026 – Timsah Shipbuilding tugboats took center stage at a ceremony in Ismailia as the Suez Canal Authority launched three new vessels and marked the start of construction of five additional tugs for the Red Sea Ports Authority. Suez Canal Authority Chairman Adm. Ossama Rabiee attended the ceremony at Timsah Shipbuilding Co., an SCA affiliate, as the authority continues expanding domestic construction and repair capabilities for marine units.
The program included the launch of Khedma 1 for Damietta Port Authority, Azima 11 for the Suez Canal Authority and Ezz El Din Younes 2 for Canal Harbor & Great Projects Co. Rabiee also witnessed the keel-laying of five new tugboats being built for the Red Sea Ports Authority.
The Suez Canal Authority said the work forms part of its efforts to develop the capabilities of its affiliated shipyards and companies, localize marine-unit construction and meet operational requirements at the Suez Canal and Egyptian ports.
Three Timsah Shipbuilding Tugboats Launched
The ceremony began with the launch of Khedma 1, which Timsah Shipbuilding Co. is building for Damietta Port Authority.
The tug measures 18.6 meters in overall length and 6.9 meters in beam, with a fully loaded draft of 2.2 meters. It has a bollard pull of 20 tons and a maximum speed of 10 knots.
Timsah then launched Azima 11 for the Suez Canal Authority. The third vessel launched was Ezz El Din Younes 2, which is being built for Canal Harbor & Great Projects Co., another SCA affiliate.
The two tugs share similar technical specifications. Each measures 18.6 meters in overall length and 6.9 meters in beam, with a fully loaded draft of 2.2 meters. Both have a bollard pull of 12 tons and a maximum speed of 11 knots.
The launch ceremony was attended by senior Suez Canal Authority officials and representatives of the maritime authorities receiving the vessels, including Red Sea Ports Authority Chairman Maj. Gen. Mohamed Abdel Rahim and Damietta Port Authority Chairman Rear Adm. Tarek Adly.
Five New Tugs Begin Construction for Red Sea Ports Authority
Following the three launches, Rabiee witnessed the keel-laying of five additional tugboats at Timsah Shipbuilding Co., marking the start of their construction for the Red Sea Ports Authority.
The five-vessel program includes two tugboats with a bollard pull of 70 tons and three with a bollard pull of 20 tons. The vessels are being built as part of efforts to modernize towage and pilotage capabilities.
Red Sea Ports Authority Chairman Maj. Gen. Mohamed Abdel Rahim said the authority is seeking to strengthen cooperation with Timsah Shipbuilding Co. for the construction of additional tugboats and marine launches as its operational requirements increase.
Rabiee later met Abdel Rahim and Damietta Port Authority Chairman Rear Adm. Tarek Adly to review the schedule for completing the remaining work and discuss future cooperation.
Adly praised the efficiency, quality and discipline of the construction work. He also described the Azima tug design as a distinctive model with several operational advantages.
Repair Work Underway on Damietta Port and SCZONE Tugs
Alongside the newbuild program, Rabiee reviewed repair and maintenance work carried out by Timsah Shipbuilding Co. on three Damietta Port Authority tugboats.
The three vessels — Abu Gandia, Abu Zeid and Hedaya — each have a bollard pull of 60 tons. The maintenance program aims to improve their efficiency and enable them to continue performing their assigned marine duties at the port.
Timsah Shipbuilding Co. is also carrying out maintenance and repair work on Misr Al Mahrousa, a 25-ton bollard pull tug belonging to the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
The combination of new construction and repair work reflects the range of marine-unit projects currently being undertaken at the company for several Egyptian maritime authorities.
SCA Expands Domestic Marine Construction Capacity
Rabiee said the Suez Canal Authority has restructured its affiliated companies and diversified their activities, enabling them to move from losses to profitability while strengthening their role in marine industries and logistics services.
He said Timsah Shipbuilding Co. has increased its output of different types of marine units, reaching 42 vessels built since 2019.
According to Rabiee, the SCA will continue expanding tugboat and marine-unit construction and repair capacity across its affiliated companies. The authority aims to make greater use of available technical and human capabilities while meeting the requirements of the Suez Canal and Egyptian ports through domestic construction rather than overseas procurement.
He added that development of Egypt’s marine fleet remains a strategic priority across the authority’s companies and shipyards.
Rabiee said Timsah Shipbuilding Co.’s marine construction and logistics capabilities complement broader efforts to localize marine industries, including activities at the South Red Sea shipyard.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the SCA chairman praised Timsah Shipbuilding Co. employees for their work and called for continued development of the company’s capabilities to strengthen its ability to compete in regional and international markets.
Source: Suez Canal Authority
