Head of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Admiral Mohab Mamish said around 18 thousand ships and a million tons of total cargo passed the Suez Canal throughout 2017.
“Egypt became an equalizing force for Euro-Mediterranean countries, we must improve our relations with these countries and carry on developing the ports,” Mamish said in a telephone interview with TV host Tamer Amin on Al-Hayah satellite channel, reported by MANA correspondent.
Mamish added that maritime ports in Egypt are under development, moreover, the Egyptian government will be developing the Nile as a strategic trade route.
The SCA head also pointed out to the success of the 14th conference of the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM).
Mamish said the Suez Canal never achieved such significant figures since 1869, adding that nobody believed that the New Suez Canal will be of much benefit to the country.
During his participation at the UFM conference, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said there are still big chances of cooperation among UFM members. He added that of the UFM’s aims is to achieve sustainable development in the water and navigation sectors in light of the unique location of its members.
Ismail also called for abandoning conflicts to achieve the common targets of economic and social development in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

leading container line CMA CGM will grow its presence in the logistics sector with the acquisition of a nearly 25% stake in CEVA Logistics.
MANA correspondent reported, leading container line CMA CGM will grow its presence in the logistics sector with the acquisition of a nearly 25% stake in CEVA Logistics for between CHF380m ($391m) to CHF450m.
The company said in a press release that it had reached an agreement to acquire the equity stake through a commitment to subscribe for mandatory convertible securities of CEVA in connection with CEVA’s planned initial public offering on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
A global leader in logistics and with more than 56,000 employees and temporary/agency workers in 160 countries, CEVA is the fifth-ranked player in the global contract logistics segment, posting revenues of over $7bn in 2017. It is also ranked 10th globally in freight forwarding, with a strong footprint in Asia.
Commenting on the proposed transaction, CMA CGM chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé said: “With this proposed investment in CEVA, CMA CGM makes a significant move, in line with its development strategy. CEVA is a major player in the logistics business, which is closely related to the shipping industry. Together, the two companies will also explore possible cooperation allowing us to propose an ever more differentiated and qualitative offering while integrating services beyond maritime transport.”
Following this equity investment, CMA CGM will nominate two members of CEVA’s Board of Directors. The two companies have agreed to explore potential opportunities to work together towards the development of joint commercial offerings, according to terms that will be defined in the coming months.
It is the latest move by CMA CGM to expand beyond the traditional concept of ocean container shipping and the company has been investing in forward-looking areas such as digitalization and LNG powered vessels.

With India’s high economic growth and the improvement of container market, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has been aggressively expanding its sales activities within the region. HMM currently operates seven services and ten vessels between Asia-India, and its export volume from India last year increased almost 70% year-over-year.
With the continuous growth of Indian market, HMM – as Korea’s first shipping carrier – has established India’s local subsidiary company in 2005 and has elevated its status as a ‘subsidiary’ to ‘Headquarter’ last September, MANA correspondent reported.
HMM held its invitational event for its VVIPs in Mumbai, India recently. It was held to further enhance the communication between its valued customers, the event took place at St. Regis Mumbai Hotel with 150 relevant VVIP customers and port related individuals.
HMM’s CEO C.K. Yoo, shared HMM’s status and position, together with its mid-long term strategical plans with the VVIPs, and assured to provide exclusive premiere service to its customers.
Prior to the invitational event, Yoo attended the opening ceremony of relocated and elevated India office and visited HMM’s ‘Global Document Center’ to encourage and communicate with local employees.
Meanwhile, HMM previously held its explanatory sessions about current shipping industry in Seoul and Busan, Korea.

The Islamic Republic of U.A.E Shipping Line (IRISL) has advanced in the latest Alphaliner’s ranking of top 100 container or operator lines , climbing to 19th place in April from 22nd last year.
According to MANA international group, IRISL managed to promote its ranking in the latest Alphaliner’s ranking of top 100 container or line operators and stands in the 19th step with two spot jump.
This report says IRISL container fleet which owns 46 ships, managed to overtake its competitors and occupy the 19th ranking, currently this company has the capacity of 96,383 TEU.
It is worth noting that currently IRISL has four vessels with the capacity of 58000 TEU in its order book, which following delivering them, the number of vessels will reached 50.

When the communication between ships and port is smoothly run, shipments move more quickly, more easily and more efficiently. This is where IMO’s Facilitation Convention comes in. The FAL convention contains standards and recommended practices and rules for simplifying formalities, documentary requirements and procedures on ships’ arrival, stay and departure. The benefits of ratification and implementation of the FAL Convention were highlighted during a National Seminar on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic (27-29 March), held in Maputo, Mozambique. The aim was to support Mozambique to ratify the Convention, including its latest amendments. Participants were advised on the benefits of using the maritime single window and electronic data interchange to facilitate ship clearance.IMO’s Julian Abril and IMO consultants were at the seminar, which was organized by IMO and the Instituto Nacional da Marinha (INAMAR). It was attended by 50 participants from ministries with responsibilities in the clearance of ships, cargo, crew and passengers at ports of Mozambique, and private stakeholders (Escola Superior de Ciências Náuticas, Portos do Norto, LBH Mozambique LDA, MPDC Maputo Port, Ovarah Mutheko Serviços Sociedade, CLN Corredor Logistico Integrado Nacala, PIL Mozambique Bollore Transport Logis).