Egyptian Transport Minister displays river transport development plan

CAIRO – 16 August 2023: Minister of Transport Kamel al-Wazir displayed in a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli the plan set to develop river transport in Egypt by mainly building new vessels that fit the current upgraded infrastructure.

The plan also consists of overhauling 26 floating buses, including 17 in Cairo and nine in other governorates. The advantage of that type of vessels is that it does not require harbors. Rather, boarding ramps can be easily installed in the suitable pick-up/drop off points.

Since harbors are still needed, the General Authority for River Transport has become the only entity an investor needs to issue the necessary licenses to operate in the sector. That is in addition to automating the process. The paperwork to establish harbors in Qena, Sohag, and Asyut has already finished.

River obstacles are being removed in addition to designing an electronic map, a communication system between vessels, and introducing a control center in Cairo to monitor navigation and provide the necessary assistance when needed.

The plan is expected to reduce the use of diesel by 64 percent, traffic jam on roads and bridges, which would cut the maintenance costs, environmental pollution, as well as accidents. The minister noted that the local component in the vessels to be built will be around 80 percent.

Moreover, 212 human-powered ferries will be substituted with 442 modern ones. Also, 384 harbors will be removed as their function will be shifted into 51 vehicular and pedestrian bridges. On the other hand, 408 harbors will be overhauled.