Suez Canal Authority (SCA)’s Chairman, Mohab Mamish, raised the Egyptian flag on the largest multi-purpose supply vessel in the Middle East, which is made in China. Named after former SCA’s Chairman, Ahmad Fadel, the ship was built by Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard , according to Global Times.

Mamish pointed out that the new ship will not be limited to providing navigation services as it will also work in the recently discovered Mediterranean Sea oil and gas fields, specially Zohr field, which will put Egypt on the same level with the world’s major gas producing and exporting countries, reported New China.

It is worth noting that the first-phase development of Zohr is now picking up speed, with first gas production expected in late 2017.

Mamish said at an inauguration ceremony that “the Suez Canal Authority is sparing no effort to modernize its potentials in the service of regional and international maritime navigation,” adding that the vessel will provide specialized logistic navigation services.