Transfer of Khufu’s Solar Ship to GEM makes it to ICCROM Award’s shortlist

CAIRO – 19 April 2022: The project of transferring Khufu’s Solar Ship to the Grand Egyptian Museum was included in the shortlist of the projects nominated for the third edition of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Culture Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region (2020-2022), which is held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

The award is granted once every 2 years.

The award aims to honor and reward outstanding works that contribute to the protection and revival of tangible cultural heritage in the Arab world.

General Supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum Project and the Surrounding Area Atef Moftah said that transporting Khufu’s Solar Ship was an unprecedented achievement.

The story began on June 23, 2019, when the idea of transporting the ship and removing the visual distortion of the complex, in which the ship resides, was presented to the political leadership. It is worth mentioning that the complex is more than 40 years old, and is located on the southern side of the Great Pyramid of Cheops.

Immediately, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed the idea after it was presented three times, which assured him.

“The president assigned the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled el-Enani and myself to consult with scientific research institutes and specialized consultants about the Egyptian idea that was put forward, and whether or not they can come up with better ideas,” said Moftah in press statements.

According to Moftah, 48 hours later, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, accompanied by Minister Khaled el-Enani, and himself reviewed the idea and began the scientific work. Moftah further explained that the scientific study on transporting the ship took a very long time, and  eventually came to the final conclusion to transfer the boat as one piece.

Indeed, the idea was carried out and achieved great success amid a state of astonishment from the entire world. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities transferred  king Khufu’s Ship from its previous location at the Pyramids Archeological Area to its new display at the Grand Egyptian Museum on August 6, 2021.

Three national companies handled Khufu’s Ship transportation to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities performed all the necessary procedures to secure the boat during the transportation, which took 6 months of workshops and meetings to discuss the most appropriate methods that ensure the ship's safety during packaging and transportation.

Khufu’s Ship was restored and assembled out of 1200 pieces of wood and has been displayed since then at the Solar Boat Museum near the Great Pyramid of Cheops.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri headed the team responsible for transferring Khufu’s Ship from the Pyramids Archeological Area to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

‎Dazzling colors lit up the special vehicle that transferred Khufu’s Ship to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Khufu’s Ship was transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum using a smart remote-controlled cart, which was specially brought in from Belgium to transport the whole ship without dismantling it.