Monday, November 30, 2015

Egyptian Minister Visits UK's Largest Container Port and Sees Just How Big Box Vessels Get

After Country's Successful Election to IMO Council Transport Boss Visits Giant Ship
Shipping News Feature
UK – EGYPT – Following a visit to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) executive council elections in London the Egyptian Minister of Transport, His Excellency Dr Saad Mohamed Elgioshy, dropped in at Britain’s largest container port at Felixstowe for a meeting with representatives of the port managers, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), and to see close up one of the world’s largest container ships, the 19,100 TEU CSCL Globe.

HPH is the world’s largest port operator with interests in 52 countries including the UK and Egypt and includes in its portfolio an interest in the Alexandria International Container Terminal where it has invested in regional community projects including educational programmes, social-service projects, medical initiatives, environmental-protection efforts and sponsoring the Al Bitash Primary School and the Al Amal Association for Orphans Care. Darrius Teo, Managing Director of the Alexandria International Container Terminal, who was also present during the visit, added:

“HPH has operated the Alexandria International Container Terminal in Egypt since 2005 when we were the first foreign investor in the port. Since our arrival container throughput in Alexandria has more than doubled to over 2 million TEU per annum and we look forward to continuing to work with the Egyptian authorities to help grow further the country’s maritime system.”

AICT operates two fully integrated container terminals at Egypt‘s main commercial ports of Alexandria port and El Dekheila port. Both ports are located on the Mediterranean Sea and support growing local and international trade in the region as Egypt expands its industrial base. AICT is a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), Alexandria Port Authority (APA) and two other minority shareholders. HPH has exclusive control and management of AICT and Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Felixstowe and Managing Director of HPH Europe Division commented:

“We were delighted to welcome Dr Elgioshy to the Port of Felixstowe and to congratulate him on Egypt’s appointment to the IMO Executive Council. While he was at the port we were able to show him some of the recent investments we have made at Felixstowe to increase capacity and the service we offer our customers.”

Photo: Clemence Cheng (left) receives a memento of the visit from His Excellency Dr Saad Mohamed Elgioshy, Egyptian Minister of Transport.