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Nile News

16 Feb 2026

ABL Secures Work at Egypt’s Kamose Gas Field

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Energy and marine consultancy ABL has been appointed to provide marine warranty survey (MWS) services to support the offshore construction for the Phase 4 development of the Kamose offshore gas field development in the Mediterranean Sea for North Sinai Petroleum Company (NOSPCO).The Kamose Phase 4 development, which is located at the Eastern flank of the Nile Delta, envisages the construction and installation of three new offshore production platforms monopods, named Hoor-1&2…

31 Aug 2025

Egypt Signs Exploration Deals with Global Firms

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Egypt has signed four agreements with international firms worth more than $340 million to explore oil and gas in the Mediterranean and Nile Delta, the Petroleum Ministry said on Saturday.The deals, signed by the state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), provide for the drilling of 10 wells as part of the ministry's efforts to boost exploration and production.Egypt, once a regional exporter, has increasingly turned to imports to meet rising domestic demand as output declines from aging fields and investment lags in new ones.Gas production in May was 3,545 million cubic metres, do

10 Jun 2025

Shadow and Dark Fleets: Increasing Size and Concerns

Copyright MomentsCatcher/AdobeStock

Global insurer Allianz Commercial recently issued its 2025 Safety & Shipping Review, examining maritime risk trends and losses. The report revealed that the shipping industry has made significant improvements when it comes to maritime safety in recent years. During the 1990s the global fleet was losing 200+ vessels a year. This total had halved 10 years ago and is now down to a record low of 27 as of the end of 2024 (from 35 in 2023).Despite the ongoing trend for fewer large losses, challenges remain.

23 Sep 2024

Egypt's Arms Delivery to Somalia Likely Adding to Friction with Ethiopia

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An Egyptian warship has delivered a second major cache of weaponry to Somalia including anti-aircraft guns and artillery, port and military officials said on Monday, in a move likely to stoke further friction between the two countries and Ethiopia.Ties between Egypt and Somalia have grown this year over their shared mistrust of Ethiopia, prompting Cairo to send several plane loads of arms to Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, after the countries signed a joint security pact in August.Ethiopia…

01 Sep 2024

Esgian Week 35 Report: Petronas Plans Return to Mexico

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Esgian provides an update on plans for Petronas to return to the deep waters off Mexico in its Week 35 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsMalaysia's Velesto said Monday it has secured a Letter of Award for its 350-ft jackup Naga 3 from Vietnam-based Thang Long Joint Operating Company (TLJOC).Dolphin Drilling’s Letter of Intent (LoI) with an undisclosed operator in the UK for its 1,500-ft semisub Borgland Dolphin has lapsed and the rig is now available for new…

02 Aug 2024

Iranian Oil Link Could Complicate Insurance Claims After Tankers Collide off Singapore

(Photo: Republic of Singapore Navy)

A collision between two tankers off Singapore in July raises questions over insurance claims, as one of the vessels previously shipped Iranian oil, potentially complicating payments due to Western sanctions, ship-trackers and industry sources say.What happened?The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Ceres I collided and caught fire about 55 km (35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca on July 19.No oil spill has been detected…

24 Jul 2024

Oil to Be Transferred from Fire-hit Tanker in Singapore

(Photo: Republic of Singapore Navy)

Ship owner Hafnia, operator of the Hafnia Nile oil tanker, is in discussion with Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) about transferring the damaged ship's cargo of naphtha to a safe location, the MPA said on Wednesday.The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Ceres I collided and caught fire about 55 km (35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca early on July 19.The Hafnia Nile, a Panamax tanker chartered by Spanish energy firm Cepsa, was carrying about 300,000 barrels of naphtha which had been purchased by Japanese refiner Eneos.

22 Jul 2024

Oil Tanker that Fled Collision Site is Detained in Malaysia

(Photo: Republic of Singapore Navy)

A tanker that fled the scene of a fiery Friday collision off Singapore entered the area of Malaysia's Bertam floating oil terminal on Monday after being tracked down and intercepted by Malaysian authorities, shipping data from LSEG and Kpler showed.The Sao Tome and Principe-flagged supertanker Ceres I had left the scene of the collision with the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile about 55 km (35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca without explanation.The Ceres I…

22 Jul 2024

Malaysia Coast Guard Locates Tanker Involved in Collision

(Photo: Republic of Singapore Navy)

A tanker that was involved in a collision near Singapore last week entered the area of Malaysia's Bertam floating oil terminal on Monday morning after it was intercepted by local authorities on Sunday, shipping data from LSEG and Kpler showed.The Sao Tome and Principe-flagged supertanker Ceres I left the scene of a fiery collision with another tanker, the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile, on Friday.The Ceres I was found in Malaysian waters with two tugboats towing it, the coast guard…

19 Jul 2024

Oil Tankers on Fire After Colliding Close to Singapore, Crew Rescued

(Photo: Republic of Singapore Navy)

Two large oil tankers were on fire on Friday after colliding near Singapore, the world's biggest refuelling port, with two crew members airlifted to hospital and others rescued from life rafts, authorities and one of the tanker operators said.Singapore is Asia's biggest oil-trading hub and the world's largest bunkering port. Its surrounding waters are vital trade waterways between Asia and Europe and the Middle East and among the busiest global sea lanes.The Singapore-flagged…

05 May 2024

Esgian Week 18 Report: Confirmations, Terminations and Suspensions

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Esgian reports an eventful week with contract confirmations, terminations and suspensions in its Week 18 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsBurullus Gas Company, the self-operated joint venture between Shell Egypt, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Petronas, has agreed to move forward with the development of Phase 11 in Egypt's Nile Delta in the Mediterranean Sea.QatarEnergy has exercised a one-year option for Borr Drilling 400-ft jackup Groa…

26 Jun 2023

SUMED Taps Thordon to Equip Pipeline Service Boats

SUMED 4, is one of seven SUMED service boats fitted with Thordon SXL tailshaft bearings (Photo: Thordon Bearings)

Egypt’s SUMED pipeline operator Arab Petroleum Pipeline Company (SUMED) has completed the tailshaft conversion to Thordon’s SXL seawater-lubricated bearing system for seven special purpose single point mooring (SPM) service boats.The final vessel in a series of 17.5m (57.4ft) long, 1976–built service boats had its original oil-lubricated tailshaft bearings replaced with the Thordon system at Nefertiti Marine’s Yard-K, in Rosetta Nile, in December 2022. The first vessel, SUMED 10…

11 Nov 2022

Fincantieri Delivers Viking's First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cruise Ship

(Photo: Fincantieri)

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri announced it has delivered the first vessel for luxury cruise operator Viking equipped with an emissions reducing hydrogen fuel cell system.Identical to Viking’s other ocean ships, the 47,800 ton Viking Neptune is fitted with a small hydrogen fuel system, making it the cruise industry’s first ship to test the use of hydrogen power for on board operations. “We are especially proud to welcome this newest sister ship to our ocean fleet, as it also marks a significant advancement in testing hydrogen as a future fuel for our vessels…

13 Apr 2022

Eni Inks Deal for Egyptian LNG Exports to Europe

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Italy's Eni has signed a framework agreement with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to provide shipments of Egyptian liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Italy and Europe, the Egyptian government said on Wednesday."The agreement also aims to exploit the great potential in the field of research and exploration in Egypt, especially in the Nile Delta, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Western Desert," a cabinet statement added.(Reuters - Reporting by Momen Said Atallah; Writing by Ahmad Elhamy; Editing by Jan Harvey)

06 Aug 2021

Egypt Finds Ancient Military Vessel, Greek Graves in Sunken City

Huge blocks of the destroyed temple of Amun in Thonis-Heracleion fell on top of a galley which was moored alongside and sank her. 2nd century BC. (Christoph Gerigk © Franck Goddio / Hilti Foundation)

Divers have discovered rare remains of a military vessel in the ancient sunken city of Thônis-Heracleion—once Egypt's largest port on the Mediterranean—and a funerary complex illustrating the presence of Greek merchants, the country said on Monday.The city, which controlled the entrance to Egypt at the mouth of a western branch of the Nile, dominated the area for centuries before the foundation of Alexandria nearby by Alexander the Great in 331 BC.Destroyed and sunk along with a wide area of the Nile delta by several earthquakes and tidal waves…

19 Jul 2021

Egypt: Divers Discover Ancient Military Vessel in Sunken City

Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Divers have discovered rare remains of a military vessel in the ancient sunken city of Thônis-Heracleion - once Egypt's largest port on the Mediterranean - and a funerary complex illustrating the presence of Greek merchants, the country said on Monday. The city, which controlled the entrance to Egypt at the mouth of a western branch of the Nile, dominated the area for centuries before the foundation of Alexandria nearby by Alexander the Great in 331 BC.Destroyed and sunk along with a wide area of the Nile delta by several earthquakes and tidal waves…

29 Mar 2021

Traffic in Suez Canal Resumes After Ever Given Refloated

(Photo: Svitzer)

Shipping was on the move again late on Monday in Egypt's Suez Canal after tugs refloated a giant container ship which had been blocking the channel for almost a week, causing a huge build-up of vessels around the waterway.With the 400-meter-long (430-yard) Ever Given dislodged, 113 ships were expected to transit the canal in both directions by early Tuesday morning, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chairman Osama Rabie told reporters.He said a backlog of 422 ships could be cleared in 3 -1/2 days.The Ever Given had become jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal…

18 Mar 2021

Hapag-Lloyd Avoids Forecast Due to Coronavirus Uncertainty

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German container shipper Hapag-Lloyd said on Thursday it almost tripled its net result in 2020 due to lower costs and higher freight rates, but shied away from specifying 2021 results due to uncertainty in the coronavirus crisis.The net result in 2020 amounted to 935 million euros ($1.12 billion) compared with 373 million euros in 2019 after revenue rose 3% and freight rates increased 4%, it said in a statement.Hapag-Lloyd, the world’s fifth largest container line, expected to…

17 Mar 2021

Hapag-Lloyd Acquires NileDutch

(Photo: NileDutch)

German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd announced Wednesday it has reached a deal to acquire NileDutch, based in the Netherlands, strengthening Hapag-Lloyd's position in the African market.The sale and purchase agreement will see Hapag-Lloyd acquire all shares of  Nile Dutch Investments B.V., subject to the approval of antitrust authorities.Rotterdam-headquartered NileDutch is among leading providers of container services from and to West Africa. The company currently offers 10 liner services…

04 Oct 2020

Protesters Block Port Sudan Container Terminal

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Protesters blocked Port Sudan's container terminal and a road between the eastern city and the capital Khartoum on Sunday to protest against a peace deal signed by the government and groups from across the country, a union official and residents said.The deal, ratified on Saturday in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, was focused on resolving conflicts in the western Darfur region and southern states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.Groups from other regions also signed, but some in the east say the two factions that participated in the "eastern track" of the peace process do not represent polit

09 Mar 2020

33 New Coronavirus Confirmed on Nile Cruise Ship

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Egypt confirmed 33 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday on a River Nile cruise ship.None of the new cases were showing symptoms of the virus, Health Minister Hala Zayed told reporters. Of 12 suspected cases among the crew announced on Friday, 11 tested negative, she said, but would nevertheless be quarantined for two weeks.Tourism is a key sector in Egypt’s economy and an important source of foreign exchange. It has recently recovered after years of disruption after Egypt’s 2011 uprising.The ship arrived in the southern Egyptian city of Luxor on Thursday from Aswan…

04 Dec 2019

Port Said Tunnel to SCCT Opened

The opening of the Port Said tunnel, under the Suez Canal just south of Port Said last week is an important piece of the jigsaw required to position the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) as Egypt’s primary gateway terminal.Construction of the twin-tubed, 4-lane road tunnel began in 2017. Its inauguration follows the opening of the Ismailia tunnel earlier this year and the 30th June Axis road, a 10-lane highway with 2+2 dedicated lanes for trucks.With the terminals strategic location offering no deviation from the main routes on trade lanes between Asia and Europe, around 95% of SCCT’s traffic has historically been made up of transshipment volume.“The new tunnel…

05 Nov 2019

EGPC Leads Oil, Gas Discoveries in Q3 2019

Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) led globally among companies in the third quarter (Q3) 2019 in terms of the highest number of oil and gas discoveries, said GlobalData.Of the total 38 discoveries made worldwide, EGPC had four, all being onshore discoveries. Of these, three were conventional oil discoveries while the remaining was a conventional gas discovery, said a report from GlobalData.Soorya Tejomoortula, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, explained: “Of the three conventional oil discoveries made by EGPC in Q3 2019, two are in the Western Desert Basin and the remaining is in the Gulf of Suez Basin. This lone conventional gas discovery was made in the Nile Delta Basin.”“Aker BP…