JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday launched two high-speed passenger ferries to operate between the Dhuba and Safaga ports.
The new ships will reduce travel time between the two countries from eight hours to two hours and 15 minutes.
Saudi Arabia donated the ships, which were built in Australia at a total cost of $130 million, to Egypt.
During the launching ceremony at Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdullah handed over ownership documents of the two ferries to Mubarak. Each ferry can carry more than 1,200 passengers and 200 vehicles.
Named Riyadh and Cairo, the new ships will run between Dhuba in Saudi Arabia and Safaga in Egypt.
It was on this route that Al-Salam 98 sank in February 2006, drowning about 1,000 passengers, mostly Egyptians working in the Kingdom.
In 1991, another Egyptian ferry, Salem Express, sank in the Red Sea en route between Jeddah and Safaga, leading to the loss of nearly 500 lives.
Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf said the launch of the two ships would usher in a new era of marine transport between the two countries.
“The two ships were built on the directives of King Abdullah following high international standards in terms of quality, speed and safety,” he said.
Each ship is 88 meters long, 24 meters wide, and has a speed of 37 nautical miles.
Al-Assaf said the two ships would boost trade and investment cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt and also promote relations between their peoples.
The ships are provided with separate prayer places for men and women.
Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Abdul Rahman, Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Miteb, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed, Al-Assaf and Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry attended the event.
Al-Seraisry said the two ships would contribute to transporting some three million passengers between Saudi and Egyptian ports.
“We have started a plan for the comprehensive development of Red Sea ports,” the Saudi minister said.
Khaled Boubsheet, president of Saudi Seaports Authority, said the two ships would start service soon after the Haj season.
“They are ready to transport Egyptian pilgrims back home.”
