Turkey is using Egyptian ports to transport goods to Gulf states Suez – Yosry Mohamed Shipping between Turkish and Egyptian ports has resumed after a three-day hiatus due to the violence in the cities of Port Said and Suez, the president of the Red Sea Ports Authority ,Major General Abdel Kader Gaballah has said.Egypt and Turkey signed an agreement in April 2012 allowing Egyptian ports to be used to transport Turkish goods to Gulf states. The Turkish shipments are received in Port Said and Damietta, and transported to Adabiya port on the Red Sea en route to Gulf ports.
On Thursday, 184 lorries arrived at Adabiya Port carrying cargo from the ports of Damietta and Port Said en route to the Saudi port of Daba, Gaballah said. The shipments were guarded by forces belonging to the Second and Third Field Armies, and 250 more Turkish lorries are now on their way to the Red Sea port, he added.
The ministries of defence, interior and transport held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the operation of the Turkish truck, in light of the tumultuous security conditions and it was agreed that the cargo run will resume under military protection.
The Turkish side had asked for an exception to allow the Turkish trucks to break the curfew imposed on Port Said, Suez and Ismailia in order to allow it to resume its exports of food to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, heavy storms have battered the el-Sukhna Port in Suez as high waves and winds hit the area. All other ports remain open and shipping traffic is running normally.