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In implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to localize maritime industries, Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, and Mr. Piero Neri, Chairman of the Italian NERI Group witnessed the signing ceremony of the contract to export two 80-ton bollard-pull TRACTOR-class tugboats.
The contract was signed by Mr. Mostafa El-Dougishy, CEO of the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats, and Mr. Piero Neri, Chairman of the Italian NERI Group, and the ceremony, held at the Company’s headquarters in Safaga, was attended by Mr. Corrado Neri, Commercial Managing Director of the Italian NERI Group, and Eng. Hassan Kamal, Board Member of the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats.
The contract stipulates that the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats will build and sell two 80-ton bollard-pull TRACTOR-class ASD tugboats, designed by the world-renowned company Robert Allen to the Italian NERI Group under the supervision of the Italian classification society RINA.
The specifications of both tugboats are identical; 30 m. in length, 12.8 m. in breadth, 4.9 m. in depth, a maximum speed of 12 knots and a bollard-pull capacity of 80 tons.
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Adm. Rabiee had a meeting with Mr. Piero Neri to follow-up the developments of building the two 90-ton bollard-pull AZM-class RAstar 3200-W ASD tugboats currently being built at the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats for the Italian NERI Group in light of the contract between both parties signed mid-October of last year.
H.E. stressed that the SCA targets transforming into a regional hub for building marine units under the slogan “Made in Egypt at World-Class Quality”, underscoring in that regard that continuing cooperation with NERI Group of Italy is a new step proving our national shipyard’s potential to export to European markets.
Admiral Ossama Rabiee pointed out that the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats proved itself as a successful model of private sector partnership, in line with the presidential directives to localize the shipping industry to meet the operational needs of Egyptian ports and exports.
The SCA Chairman added that the Suez Canal Authority is steadily working to maximize the potential of its subsidiary shipyards and companies, creating a new avenue for accessing foreign markets and export marine units with the leading-edge technology.
Mr. Piero Neri, Chairman of Italy’s NERI Group, expressed his commitment to strengthening ties with the Suez Canal Authority, aiming to boost future business by building more tugboats through the activation of a clause in the original contract to construct two additional 'Azm'-class tugboats with a 90-ton bollard pull. In the meantime, the two parties are negotiating the construction of a barge equipped with a 200-ton crane and a 35-meter tourist yacht.
The Chairman of Italy’s NERI Group pointed out that his company’s policy for selecting partners is based on clear rules, vision, and standards, with quality as the top priority, a principle he saw clearly reflected in the partnership with the Suez Canal Authority. He praised the exceptional quality of the tugboats being manufactured, which will be further proven during sea trials. He expressed confidence that the Egyptian shipyard’s workmanship will rival that of European shipyards, looking forward to celebrating the delivery of the two 90-ton bollard pull tugboats in September.
He also commended the infrastructure development at the South Red Sea Shipyard (SRSS), which aligns with the future vision of expanding the partnership to achieve both parties' mutual goals.
Mr. Corrado Neri, Commercial Managing Director of the Italian Group, expressed confidence that both parties will deepen their cooperation in the near future. He affirmed that the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats meets the Italian Group’s needs and expectations in terms of quality, timeline, and competitive pricing, creating opportunities for a successful partnership moving forward.
Mr. Mostafa El-Dougishy, CEO of the Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats, affirmed that the company has succeeded in earning the trust of Italy's NERI Group and advancing bilateral cooperation through a new agreement to build and export two tugboats with an 80-ton bollard pull. He described the deal as the first milestone in a broader contract for building a variety of marine units.
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