The Ministry of Transport, represented by the National Navigation Company (NNC), celebrated a significant milestone in the modernization journey of the Egyptian commercial fleet: the commencement of construction for two massive Kamsarmax-type dry bulk carriers.
Construction begins on giant carriers
These two giant ships, each with a deadweight of 82,000 tons, are being built at the Jiangsu Hantong Heavy Industry shipyard in the People’s Republic of China, one of the world’s largest shipyards.
Deepening partnership with China
In his speech during the celebration, Metwally affirmed that the project represents the deepening and expansion of a successful and established partnership between the National Navigation Company and the Hantong shipyard. This partnership was previously reinforced in January 2024 with the delivery of the ship “Wadi El-Arish,” which is of the same model and has already demonstrated a high level of quality, professionalism, and reliability in service.
Advanced specifications and eco-compliance
He added that the two new ships, contracted for in April 2024 and scheduled for delivery in 2026, represent an advanced model of shipbuilding technology. Each vessel will have a deadweight of 82,000 tons, a length of meters, a width of meters, and a draft of meters. They will be powered by a main engine of the MAN B&W model with a power output of kilowatts, equipped with advanced emission control systems. This ensures complete compliance with current and future global environmental standards while achieving the highest levels of operational efficiency.
Fleet modernization nears 54% goal
Metwally indicated that once these two vessels are delivered—plus two additional Kamsarmax carriers (each 82,000 tons) contracted with the same shipyard in 2025 for a 2028 delivery—the National Navigation Company (NNC) will have completed the renewal and modernization of approximately of its owned fleet within the last three years.
Financing vision 2030
This rapid expansion was financed using the company’s self-generated liquidity (own funds), marking a major stride toward achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030 for sustainable development. It also aligns with the Ministry of Transport’s strategy to revitalize the Egyptian commercial fleet, specifically following directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to restore the fleet’s strength and global competitiveness.
Future fleet goals
The plan is to increase the fleet to 40 ships by 2030, capable of transporting 30 million tons of diverse goods annually. This represents a huge jump from the current ships, which have a total transport capacity of only million tons of various goods. This larger fleet will be crucial for serving the strategic transport of grains, petroleum, and passengers between Egypt and the rest of the world.
The National Navigation Company
The National Navigation Company (NNC) is a leader in maritime transport in the Middle East. It operates under the Maritime and Land Transport Holding Company, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Transport. Established in 1981, NNC is an Egyptian joint-stock company focused primarily on the transport of dry bulk cargo.
