The Transport Ministry has announced that it has begun to dismantle and recover seven ships that sank off the port of Alexandria following directives by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who determined they should be removed from the water within a year.
Transport Minister Hani Dahy, submitted a report to the prime minister on the seven ships currently being disassembled under water.
Alexandria Ports Authority Chairman Abdel Qader Darwish said three companies have already begun cutting the sunken vessels into pieces under the water and that those pieces will be lifted out of the water in three days.
As part of the first stage in the work process, seven out of 20 vessels are being removed from the water, he said, adding that a deadline has been given to the companies on when their work should be completed.
Darwish pointed out that the authority has taken measures to lift the sunken vessels out of the water within a year, upon Sisi's directives. The chairman added that the transport minister is following up on that file on a daily basis.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
