The Government of Egypt's two Austal-built high-speed vehicle ferries have officially commenced operations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, introducing a new standard of ferry service across the Red Sea.
Each 88-metre vessel now performs six return trips per week, operating on 100 nautical mile route between Dibba in Saudi Arabia and Safaga in Egypt.
The service has proven popular with pilgrims travelling on to Mecca, Egyptian workers travelling to and from Saudi Arabia as well as business and leisure travellers. So far more than 69,700 people have utilised the service, which has also facilitated the transport of 3,514 vehicles and 730 trucks.
The two ferries, 'Cairo' and 'Riyadh' were originally delivered to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December 2008 and later gifted to the Egyptian Government to improve the standard of ferry services across the Red Sea.
Each vessel has the capacity to carry 1,200 passengers, 120 cars and 15 trucks at an operating speed of 37 knots.
