The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) on Monday inaugurated the first luxury tourist yacht produced by its Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats, marking a major milestone in Egypt's push to localise the maritime industry. The 37-metre Sport Fisherman–style yacht, weighing 135 tons and powered by MTU 2,600-horsepower engines, features a master suite, four guest rooms, and four crew cabins, as well as hydraulic systems for bow winches and a rear swimming platform. Interior designs were crafted by Studio Vafiadis, with construction supervised by Italian classification society RINA. SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said the launch reflects the company's "ambitious vision to advance local shipbuilding under the slogan Made in Egypt, achieving world-class quality and preparing for regional and international competition." The company is also building additional tourist yachts, passenger boats, and a Nile tour taxi unit, while completing fiberglass manufacturing facilities in Safaga to scale production. Mostafa El-Degishi, CEO of Suez Canal Company for Modern Boats, said the factory would allow the production of multiple yachts from the new mold, alongside two 17-metre passenger boats for the canal authority, each carrying 15 passengers. During his visit, Rabie inspected new tugboats, fishing vessels, and ongoing mechanical works, and met with a delegation from Svitzer, a global tug and salvage company, to explore future cooperation. The launch marks Egypt's largest step yet in domestic luxury yacht production, supporting the government's broader strategy to strengthen the maritime and tourism sectors. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
