(AFP Photo)
By Doaa Farid
Recent clashes in coastal cities have resulted in casualties but have had no impact on maritime traffic, said Ahmed Naguib Sharaf, chairman of the General Authority for Port Said Ports.
Ahmed El-Akkad, the chairman of Alexandria Chamber of Shipping, said there have been no suspensions in traffic since the 30 June protests. Even since the January 25th Revolution, El-Akkad said, there has never been a halt in maritime traffic. Performance rates may decrease because of unrest, he said, but never come to a stop.
“Even during the unrest in Port Said in January, the port was working,” he added.
In contrast, Ali Abdel Nour, a member of the board of directors of the Nile Company for Direct Transport, said the work of the company is now limited to the port of Suez and has stopped in Port Said, Damietta and Safaga due to a decrease in imports and exports following the recent political turmoil, according to Al-Borsa news.
Abdel Nour said revenues have dropped from EGP2bn to EGP300m due to the suspension of work.
