Transporters worried about Egypt’s decision not to renew Ro-Ro deal with Turkey

HATAY - Anadolu Agency

Turkish transporters are worried about Egypt’s decision not to renew the sea and land transit transportation agreement for roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships with Turkey. The existing deal will expire on April 23.

Transporters in Turkey’s south have faced mounting problems, particularly after the closing of the Cilvegözü Border Gate between Turkey and Syria, said Yusuf Hatay, the head of private transportation company Hatay Ro-Ro, which was established by 55 transportation firms in the region.

As a result, the transportation of Ro-Ro ships from Turkey’s Mersin port to a number of Egypt’s ports became a viable alternative route, in order to bypass conflict-ridden lands to Turkey’s south, Hatay added.

Hatay Ro-Ro at first started to make one shipment a week, before doubling the shipments with a 100 percent occupancy rate, he also said.

“The sea and land transit transportation deal, which enables companies to transport goods between Turkey and Egypt, and Egypt and Saudi Arabia, will expire on April 23. The Egyptian authorities had earlier announced that they would not renew the deal. This will hit us as well as Turkey’s exports,” Hatay stated.

Signed in March 2012, the agreement allows the use of Egyptian seaports for the transport of Turkish foodstuffs, electrical appliances and textile products to markets in the Gulf.

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci denied on Oct. 31 that the Egyptian government’s move to not renew its trade deal with Turkey would not hurt Turkey’s exports.

Ro-Ro ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers, and railroad cars, which are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle, such as a self-propelled modular transporter.