Egypt is a geostrategic location to become the largest logistics hub in the region.
The port development strategy is aimed at transforming Egyptian ports into smart and green ports to tackle carbon emissions.
We have worked on unifying Arab maritime ranks and preparing a guideline manual for handling ’emergencies’ at Arab ports.
Special : Maritime Tickers
*In his interview, Rear Admiral Essam Bedawy, the Secretary-General of the Arab Sea Ports Federation, ( ASPF ) asserts that Arab sea ports have achieved high rankings in the latest World Bank report on container port performance for 2022. Salalah Port in Oman leaped to the second position, followed by Khalifa Port (UAE) in third, and Tanger Med Port (Morocco) in fourth, while Port Said in Egypt jumped three places to occupy the tenth spot among 348 ports globally.
Emphasized in an Interview with Maritime Tickers : that the Arab Sea Ports Federation ( ASPF ) aims to be the true umbrella for all Arab seaports, which are witnessing significant “leaps” towards global recognition. He stressed the importance of the role of the Egyptian Ministry of Transport in activating the strategy to develop Egyptian seaports and transform them into smart ports within the digital framework and green ports using green hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions in compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations.
*Rear Admiral Essam Bedawy,* who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1964 and rose through various positions to become the commander of the Egyptian submarine force, served for more than 36 years and received numerous medals and decorations. He later assumed the position of Chairman of the Damietta Port Authority and Deputy Minister, Head of the Maritime Transport Sector. He participated in the membership of several boards of maritime transport, container services, environmental services, and marine research and study centers.
*At the outset, what can you tell us about the Arab Sea Ports Federation and its operational mechanisms in the face of global competition?*
“The Arab Sea Ports Federation ( ASPF ) is one of the specialized Arab unions working under the umbrella of the Arab League (Council for Arab Economic Unity). It serves as the house of expertise for all Arab sea ports, established in October 1976 with its headquarters in Alexandria. The goal of its foundation was to develop Arab sea ports amid global competition, enjoying legal personality and administrative and financial independence.
*What does it mean that the ASPF works on developing Arab seaports and serves as a ‘house of expertise’?
Among its objectives, the federation aims to develop, coordinate, and strengthen ties among its members amidst diverse expertise.
Through its tasks, competencies, and experiences in the Arab maritime facility sector, it conducts research, prepares economic feasibility studies for prospective projects
, offers guidance on liaising with Arab and foreign expert houses, sets up training and qualification programs to enhance workforce efficiency, provides support in implementing these programs, helps members meet their technical and administrative staffing needs through exchanges,
and enhances cooperation to support, develop, and qualify Arab seaports, as has been done with Beirut, Sidon, Sudan’s ports, and also the development of Alexandria Port, not just facilitating trade but maximizing income.
He confirmed that ships and goods entering Alexandria Port translate into national income like all the mentioned ports and Alexandria Port had not been developed for 25 years until President Sisi recently inaugurated the multi-purpose Tahya Misr Multipurpose Terminal one of the major economic projects that is likely to boost Alexandria Port’s international ranking.
*Is there any coordination with other Arab or regional federations ?
There is coordination among existing or future regional Arab Sea port federations ( ASPF ) because we operate under the umbrella of the Council for Arab Economic Unity.
*What important decisions were taken at previous ASPF meetings, and how are they activated?
As mentioned earlier, one of the key recent decisions was supporting Beirut Port, urging Arab ports to contribute to solving the disaster.
The Kuwait Ports Authority commendably provided support. Among the important decisions were efforts to unify maritime ranks and regulatory policies to exchange expertise in this area.
A guideline manual was also prepared, adopted by the Council of Arab Transport Ministers for handling emergencies, along with courses and workshops on digital transformation in ports with Abu Dhabi ports and other courses to enhance the efficiency of the sector’s workforce, adopting the technical committee’s recommendations for human skills development
*Regarding the mechanism for implementing the decision to unify Arab maritime ranks, why this direction?
In the previous meetings of the federation, number 56, held on November 25, 2020, Sheikh Yousuf Al SABAH, ex-chairman of the federation’s board, proposed the idea of unifying maritime ranks; a Scientific gap and differences in general competencies were identified, which would have negative repercussions on Arab ports.
This represents an international convention for training standards, vacation, and watchkeeping for seafarers, known as the “Manila Amendments” of 2010, which have been in force for participating countries since 2012.
This is intended to enhance the workforce’s efficiency and facilitate the exchange of expertise and practices, benefiting all Arab countries and promoting development and progress.
*Egypt enjoys a geostrategic location as a meeting point for three continents, which gives it a significant maritime position. Do you agree us with this?
Indeed, we must exploit the genius of the location,. Egypt possesses a geostrategic position as a junction for the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and it has the attributes that make it an exceptional maritime nation.
Currently, Egypt has 18 commercial ports being developed as part of the Port Development Strategy 2030. It also has 3,000 kilometers of coastline where new ports such as the ports of GARGOUB and Abu Qir are being established, targeting the East as Singapore.
The development plan aims to handle 370 million tons of cargo annually, up from 185 million, and 22 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), up from 12 million TEUs. All this to make Egypt the largest logistics hub in the region, integrating with other logistics centers and points in Arab countries
*So, can we say that our Egyptian maritime ports are on their way to competing globally? And what about the involvement of the private sector in managing some Egyptian ports?
The strategy to develop maritime ports is progressing significantly towards transforming them into smart and green ports in line with the International Maritime Organization’s decisions to reduce carbon emissions and use green hydrogen at ports.
The World Bank, in its latest report, noted that Port Said had advanced three places to reach the tenth position in the 2022 Container Port Performance Index out of 348 ports worldwide, with the Bang Shan Port in China in first place followed by an Arab port, Salalah Port in Oman, in second place, then Khalifa Port (UAE) in third, and TANGER MED Port (Morocco) in fourth, all being Arab ports
In addition to the launch of ship provisioning services at East Port Said, which is the first of its kind, the port is ready to accommodate many projects where the docks are ready to international standards and depths that allow the berthing of giant and latest generation ships.
Negotiations have been completed with Abu Dhabi Ports Group to build and develop the infrastructure and manage and operate a multi-purpose terminal including dry bulk and liquid bulk for petroleum services at East Port Said docks, which extend over 1.5 km,
In addition to negotiations on establishing a logistics area. The private sector involvement means increasing operational rates to achieve the strategy for port development and enhance its operational rates
*Is there a strategy to link Arab ports under the federation’s umbrella and give them a competitive edge?
Virtually, there was a plan to create a database linking all Arab seaports and Arab maritime transport, but unfortunately it did not see the light, because the League of Arab States had another vision to include all modes of transport with the Arab Union Project for Arab Seaports, but there is an official website that including all the ports with all the data. And news to increase communication and disseminate notifications and decisions
*Tell us about the urgent issues that will be raised at the upcoming ( ASPF )Meetings.?
“Firstly: Monitoring the issue of unifying maritime ranks and its effectiveness on the ground.
Secondly: Revisiting and researching the issue of digital transformation ,autonomous which was confirmed by the Covid-19 pandemic, along with the requirements of the International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) and its recent rules regarding carbon emissions and the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.4IR
Thirdly: Discussing the topic of green ports and studying the steps of the countries implementing it within the framework of the trend towards reducing carbon emissions and using green energy.
Fourthly:: Emphasize the importance of developing capabilities Menpowers, as they are the backbone of industry and the basis for the progress of countries.
Finally: Researching several topics for workshops that enhance efficiency, develop human skills, and contribute to enhancing the capabilities of youth to face the Labor market in the current situation.”
The Fourth Industrial Revolution ( 4IR ) represents one of the challenges facing our Arab ports. How do you see it?
This requires revisiting the laws and ministerial decisions regarding tariffs, accelerating digital transformation, and improving the infrastructure to keep up with the modern generations of ships, reviewing laws that regulate surveillance and customs, qualifying the human element, and the environment (green ports).
He added :A workshop was organized to research and develop regarding green ports and how to implement them in Egypt, and there might be a unified law for ports and maritime transport that regulates the movement of container handling and port fees, and raising the Egyptian flag, which is seen as a ‘life kiss’ for the maritime transport sector in Egypt, with a move towards the ‘Blue Economy,’ which the World Bank sees as the leading economy in the world by vision 2030
Congratulations to Liwa Isam Badawy for
His efforts , wishing him continues success
As Secretary General to the Federation of
Arab Ports and the progress of these ports.
Thanks a lot