SCA: Suez Canal open for all commercial vessels, warships under Convention of Constantinople

CAIRO- 1 November 2024: In response to a question regarding allowing warships pass through the Suez Canal, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said the authority is committed to implementing international agreements that guarantee freedom of maritime navigation for ships transiting the Canal, whether commercial or military ships, without discrimination based on the ship’s nationality, Extra News reported.

The SCA added that this commitment comes in line with the provisions of the Constantinople Convention, which stipulates “ the Suez Canal should always be open to ships of all countries, in war and peace alike.”

The authority also continued that the transiting of warships through the Suez Canal is subject to special procedures.

The SCA gave these media comments after Social media accounts allegedly said that the German-flagged ship “the MV Kathrin,” which is carrying military arms to Israel, has anchored at the Mediterranean port of Alexandria after three countries including Namibia, Malta and Angola rejected receiving it.

On Thursday evening, the Egyptian Ministry of Transport denied media reports circulating on social media claiming that the Egyptian government had allowed a German -flagged vessel, which is carrying military arms to Israel, to dock at the port of Alexandria.

The Ministry of Transport added that this news is completely false and baseless.

The Ministry continues that the ship "the MV Kathrin",  which bears the Portuguese nationality, was allowed to dock at the port of Alexandria to unload a shipment for the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production.

The Egyptian Ministry of Transport also said that the MV Kathrin submitted an official request to be allowed to leave the port towards the Haydarpaşa Port in Turkey to complete its route.

The Ministry called for verifying the accuracy and credibility of the news published by the Ministry of Transport and to obtain information from its official sources.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Armed Forces categorically denied what has been circulated on social media and suspicious accounts and what is being claimed about helping Israel in its military operations, said the Egyptian Military Spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez in a statement on Thursday.

The Military spokesman added that Egyptian armed forces confirm that there is no any form of cooperation with Israel, urging people to be accurate regarding the information being circulated. 

 “The Armed Forces are the nation’s shield and sword to protect its capabilities and defend its great people, said the Military Spokesman.