Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, has announced the arrival of FAKHR 1, an integrated petroleum supply and services vessel, at SCA-affiliated Timsah Shipbuilding Company, ahead of her formal induction into the Authority's fleet. The vessel made her delivery voyage from China, transiting the Suez Canal among the south convoy.
Admiral Rabiee noted that FAKHR 1 completed her delivery voyage from Ningde Tai Jinzhou Yuajin Shipyard in China, where she was built, sailing non-stop for 33 days before transiting the Suez Canal to take up her berth at Timsah Shipbuilding Company.
FAKHR 1 measures 64.8 metres in length and 16 metres in beam, with a draft of 5 metres, and is equipped to accommodate a crew of 60 personnel.
Built to the latest international standards in fuel-efficient maritime operations, FAKHR 1 is fully equipped to support diving activities and fitted with a DP2 Dynamic Positioning system, allowing her to hold station anywhere without the need to drop anchor.
The arrival ceremony was attended by Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the SCA; Admiral Ashraf Atwa, Deputy Chairman of the SCA; a number of SCA Board members and senior officials; Eng. Abdelhakim Zakaria, Director of Affiliated Companies Dept.; Eng. Ahmed Ibrahim, Chairman of Timsah Shipbuilding Company; Eng. Tarek Makhareetah, Chairman of Canal Mooring & Lights Company; and Eng. Ahmed Galal, Chairman of Canal Rope Company.
Speaking at the ceremony, Admiral Rabiee highlighted that FAKHR 1, the first of its kind in Egypt, is purpose-built to serve as a geophysical survey and marine geotechnical investigations vessel in support of petroleum exploration. The addition of this vessel promotes Egypt's oil and gas exploration efforts by bolstering the national fleet with a state-of-the-art marine unit, generating significant foreign currency savings and reducing the country's dependence on foreign-owned marine units.
Admiral Rabiee further stated that commissioning is scheduled to get under way in the presence of ABL Group, following the installation of the vessel's diving equipment, with the formal flag-raising ceremony to follow in due course.
Admiral Rabiee announced that FAKHR 1 will be deployed to Abu Rudeis in the Red Sea under a contract with Petrobel Company, an affiliate of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), with actual work is expected to commence this July.
Admiral Rabiee reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to bolstering and continuously upgrading its fleet across all vessel categories, adding that negotiations are currently under way for the construction of a sister vessel to FAKHR 1, to work in the petroleum exploration sector.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the SCA Chairman conducted a thorough inspection of FAKHR 1 and took commemorative photos with the vessel's crew and company personnel.
With reference to Timsah Shipbuilding Company's participation in the Al-Nasr Floating Bridge 2 project, Admiral Rabiee took the occasion to expres his deep appreciation and gratitude to all those involved, commending their dedicated efforts in delivering the project efficiently and within a record timeframe.
The SCA Chairman added that the current period bears the fruit of sustained hard work in advancing the Authority's strategic objectives to diversify the revenue streams by introducing new services and driving the profitability of its affiliated companies.
It is worth noting that FAKHR 1 is owned by a consortium comprising Timsah Shipbuilding Company, Canal Mooring & Lights Co., and Canal Rope Co. The vessel is the fourth addition to the petroleum services fleet operated by the SCA-affiliated Timsah Shipbuilding Company, which also operates the service vessels AMAN, AHMED FADEL, and BADR.
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