Timsah Shipbuilding Company

Shipping Arabia, October 8, 2026 – The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and Kenya’s Tunasco are exploring a partnership focused on port development and marine construction in Kenya, including the potential establishment of a specialized company to undertake projects in the East African country.

Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, discussed the proposal with Tunasco Chairman Abdul Wali Sharif during a meeting at the authority’s headquarters in Ismailia.

The talks focused on opportunities for cooperation in the construction and development of ports in Kenya as the SCA seeks to expand its activities into African markets and contribute to regional development initiatives.

Proposed company for port and marine construction projects

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the possibility of forming a partnership between Tunasco and the Suez Canal Authority through Timsah Shipbuilding Company, one of the authority’s affiliated companies.

Under the proposal, the partners would establish a specialized company to operate in port works and marine construction in Kenya.

The meeting was also attended by Abdel Hakim Zakaria, Director of the Companies Department; Ahmed Ibrahim, Chairman of Timsah Shipbuilding Company; and Maj. Gen. Ehab Abdel Fattah and Maj. Gen. Assem El-Safty, board members of the Kenyan-Egyptian company.

SCA targets wider African markets

Rabiee said the Suez Canal Authority aims to open new markets across Africa and participate actively in development efforts based on the strategic interests and partnership relations linking Egypt with African countries.

He said the authority is ready to contribute to the development of Kenya’s marine infrastructure and transfer its expertise in sectors connected with maritime activity.

Potential areas of cooperation include port development, marine construction, dredging, shipbuilding, maritime unit construction and training.

The discussions therefore extend beyond port construction alone, with the SCA positioning its technical and operational capabilities across several maritime fields as part of the proposed cooperation.

Tunasco seeks access to SCA expertise

Sharif said Tunasco is looking to establish close cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority and benefit from its technical capabilities, human resources and extensive experience across different maritime activities.

He said cooperation with the SCA has been welcomed by the Kenyan government, particularly amid closer Egyptian-Kenyan relations over the past five years.

According to Sharif, the coming period is expected to include bilateral meetings with several Kenyan government officials. These discussions are intended to establish a general framework for cooperation and begin the steps required for implementation.

Tunasco brings local presence in Kenya

Tunasco has a local presence in Kenya and is involved in multiple infrastructure development projects.

The company’s position in the Kenyan market, combined with the SCA’s technical capabilities and the participation of Timsah Shipbuilding Company, forms the basis of the proposed partnership under discussion.

The talks remain focused on establishing a framework for cooperation in Kenya, with further government-level discussions expected before implementation steps begin.

Source: Suez Canal Authority

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