Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir honors Damietta port rescue crews

Transport Minister Kamel El‑Wazir travelled to the Port of Damietta following a weekly cabinet meeting and a presidential directive from President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi. He met with Governor Hossam Eldin Fawzy and senior port officials to thank the crews of the marine tug teams that rescued the two vessels, the tanker Tafgaz and the cargo ship Al‑Takhzeen, after a serious fire broke out.

The operation employed eight tugs: four secured the storage ship and towed it about 10 km away from the harbor, while another four contained the blaze and pulled the Tafgaz vessel roughly 3.5 km offshore, using water‑cannon fire‑fighting equipment to prevent damage to the port infrastructure. Minister El‑Wazir praised the teams for their professionalism, calling the effort a "national epic" and noting that Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly also sent a message of gratitude. The minister highlighted the port’s continued ability to handle ship movements and cargo amid the incident, underscoring Egypt’s ambition to develop Damietta into a regional logistics hub.