The Information and Decision Support Center at the Egyptian Cabinet issued a report outlining the main opportunities available to Egypt to enhance activities related to ship supply. The report highlighted that ship supply is one of the vital activities contributing to the economies of many countries such as the Netherlands, Dubai, and Singapore. Marine activities and those related to ship cargo include shipping agency services, loading and unloading, storage and warehousing, marine works, supplying ship crews, and ship maintenance and repair outside dry docks, according to Transport Decision No. 800 of 2016 and its amendment by Ministry of Transport Decision No. 610 of 2023.

The center confirmed that enhancing ship supply activities will activate about 24 other activities and sectors in the region. Additionally, several services can be provided alongside ship activities, including solid waste collection from ships, treatment and recycling, supply services including fresh water, which covers supplying docked or anchored ships at ports with fresh water meeting international standards, as well as maintenance, repair, inspection, and testing services.

The report pointed out the key factors that enhance ship supply activities as follows:

• Continuous infrastructure development: Providing modern facilities and equipment necessary for supply operations, such as specialized docks and secure storage units.
• Customs and administrative facilitation: Simplifying customs procedures and providing administrative ease to companies operating in this sector helps attract more clients.
• Providing integrated logistics services: Offering a comprehensive set of logistics services such as storage, transport, and distribution attracts more maritime companies.
• Training and qualification: Investing in training and qualifying the workforce in this sector ensures the provision of high-quality services.
• International cooperation: Building international partnerships and enhancing cooperation with other countries in the field of ship supply.

The report also addressed the success factors for Egypt to enhance activities related to ship supply, which include:

• Multiple Egyptian ports: Egypt owns many seaports capable of receiving large ships, such as Port Said, Alexandria, Suez, and Sokhna.
• Supplying the first container ship at Sokhna Port in July 2023 in the southern area of the Suez Canal Economic Zone as part of the region’s launch of this service for shipping lines.
• The existence of a legal framework regulating supply activities at Egyptian ports and airports (Publication No. 8 of 2024) issued by the Egyptian Customs Authority, which organizes many facilities granted to ship crews including goods, spare parts, and maintenance for ships, planes, or trains.
• The formation of the National Committee tasked with launching the newly established maritime services system for ship supply, chaired by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and including representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Suez Canal Authority, and the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority.
• Granting the first license for global companies to operate ship fuel supply services at Egyptian ports, adding value to the maritime ports.

Regarding the requirements for Egypt’s success and resources needed to enhance activities related to ship supply, the center explained they include:

• A strategy to organize ship supply excluding fuel (water, food, and various products for the ship crew) in cooperation with well-known brands through franchising.
• Setting service prices: Preparing a benchmarking study with other ports and studying the cost and return of each service separately to determine appropriate pricing for each service and port. Establishing mechanisms to apply occupational safety and health rules to all service providers by qualifying personnel and providing necessary safety equipment for each service.
• Focusing on environmental and security aspects in ship fuel supply, using barges with large capacity and efficient pumping, heating, and mixing rates to compete with global ports, enabling the fueling of giant ships with large quantities in a short time, thus reducing voyage time and ship rental costs.