In line with the directives of the political leadership to localize national industries, and within the framework of the General Command of the Egyptian Armed Forces’ commitment to the continuous development of capabilities and armament systems, Vice Admiral Ashraf Atwa, Commander of the Egyptian Navy and Chairman of the Marine Industries and Services Organization, presided over the delivery of the first “Ras El-Hekma” Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugboat of the RASTR 3200 class.

This tugboat is the first of a total of three being constructed for the Egyptian Navy at Alexandria Shipyard in cooperation with the French classification society Bureau Veritas (BV), under a contractual agreement between the Navy and Alexandria Shipyard Company, the Egyptian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The ASD tugboat is distinguished by its competitive cost, high bollard pull capacity of 85 tons, and superior maneuverability and control. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art systems and equipment from leading global manufacturers in the maritime industry.

Alexandria Shipyard aims to enter the global tugboat market with this model for the first time in Egypt’s shipbuilding history. The company aspires to become a regional hub for the construction and export of this class of tugboats to various countries in the coming phase.

The ceremony was attended by Rear Admiral Hossam El-Din Ezzat, Chairman of Alexandria Shipyard, senior naval officers, representatives of Bureau Veritas, and delegations from major international maritime companies. (Source & Photo © Egyptian Ministry of Defense)