The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) advanced the modernization of the Egyptian fishing fleet with the launching of the REZK fishing vessels 2 and REZK 3 at the South Red Sea Shipyard (SRSS), located in Safaga.
The ceremony was led by Admiral Ossama Rabiee, President and CEO of the SCA, accompanied by Mostafa El-Dougishy, Chairman of the SRSS shipyard, as well as executives and technical representatives linked to the project.
REZK fishing vessels strengthen the Egyptian shipbuilding industry
The REZK 2 and REZK 3 vessels are part of a series of 12 ocean fishing vessels being built for the Suez Canal Authority under the supervision of the Italian classification society RINA.
According to Admiral Rabiee, the REZK class represents the first generation of Egyptian ships specifically designed to operate on the high seas and in international waters, complying with international maritime treaties and requirements.
Furthermore, I would like to highlight that these units incorporate integrated systems for the capture, processing, and preservation of fish, utilizing modern naval technology and specialized equipment for extended operations at sea.
Vessels designed for long-duration fishing operations
The two vessels have identical technical characteristics, each one is 50 meters long, 10.5 meters wide, has a draft of 4.2 meters and a maximum speed of 12 knots.
Each vessel is also equipped with four electric generators: two main 450 kW generators, one 100 kW emergency generator, and an additional 450 kW mechanical generator capable of powering the propulsion system in case of emergency.
The vessels also incorporate fishing lines that exceed 150,000 meters and large capacity cold storage chambers intended to preserve and freeze the fish during long periods of storage at sea.
Local construction strengthens Egypt’s maritime industry
During the event, Rabiee noted that the manufacture of these ships by Egyptian labor will allow the country to expand its technical capabilities in more complex maritime projects.
He also stated that the program contributes to generating foreign exchange earnings through the operation of deep-sea fishing vessels and the international promotion of the Egyptian shipbuilding industry.
For his part, Mostafa El-Dougishy indicated that the development of the REZK class was made possible thanks to the government’s motivation to strengthen private participation in the location of the maritime industry.
The executive explained that the shipyard is currently working on four vessels simultaneously and expects to complete the sea trials of REZK 2 and REZK 3 within the next two months.
RINA monitors compliance with international standards
Engineer Shady El-Matbouly, director of RINA’s office in Egypt, emphasized that the vessels fully comply with the international standards applicable to deep-sea fishing vessels.
The Italian classification society oversaw all stages of the project, including design, stability calculations, equipment certification, and inspection of the shipbuilding carried out in Egypt.
Source and photo: Suezcanal