Suez Canal readies for full operations, advances green initiatives

In Egypt, on January 22, 2025, Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, met with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in Ismailia, Egypt, to discuss the gradual return of major shipping lines as security stabilizes in the Red Sea. The meeting coincided with the opening of the IMO’s regional office in Egypt and ongoing projects to enhance navigation and sustainability in the canal.

Admiral Rabiee emphasized the canal’s preparedness for full operations, citing recent enhancements like a waterway expansion that increases capacity by 6–8 vessels and the scheduled opening of the Small Bitter Lakes doubling project in early 2025. He announced that CMA CGM vessels would resume EPIC service between South Asia and Europe on January 23.

Rabiee detailed the Suez Canal’s “Green Canal” strategy, which includes converting marine units to operate on biofuels, powering pilotage stations with clean energy, and providing safe and sustainable waste disposal services. The canal has also added 27 aluminum pilot boats and is building 29 multipurpose tugboats, some with up to 190-ton bollard pull capacity. These initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions and ensure compliance with evolving environmental standards.

Dominguez praised these efforts, calling the canal “indispensable” to global trade and urging shipping lines to prioritize its route as Red Sea stability improves. Both leaders committed to collaboration on advanced training programs and pollution-combatting strategies.

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