Official Ceremony Marks the Launch of New Maritime Tugboat "El Jem"
An official ceremony was held on Tuesday at the commercial port of Zarzis to announce the commissioning of the new maritime tugboat "El Jem", acquired by the Tunisian Office of Merchant Marine and Ports (OMMP) as part of a contract for six modern tugboats.
Objective
The goal is to strengthen the capabilities and services of Tunisian ports in terms of towing, firefighting, and marine pollution control, as well as assistance at sea, and to modernize port facilities and equipment.
Ceremony Highlights
During the ceremony organized at the commercial port of Zarzis, the OMMP, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, presented its orientations and highlighted the strategic importance of the new tugboat "El Jem" for improving port services, in the presence of the Governor of Medenine, Walid Tabboubi, and the CEO of the OMMP, Khaoula Belakhdar.
Port Activity Overview
An overview of the port's activity was also provided, recalling the investments made and the planned projects, including the dredging scheduled for the second half of 2026.
CEO Statement
The CEO of the OMMP emphasized that "El Jem" constitutes a qualitative addition thanks to its technological capabilities, allowing for improved port performance, reduced costs, and enhanced reactivity, particularly in terms of pollution control. She stressed the need to maintain this type of equipment and recalled the ongoing study of the port master plan by 2040.
Port Director Statement
The Director of the Zarzis port, on his part, indicated that this acquisition is part of the willingness to make the port a maritime and logistics hub serving regional development, also evoking the prospects of attracting cruises and strengthening exchanges via new maritime lines.
Exporters' Reaction
The exporters present welcomed this acquisition, while calling for the dredging of the port and the integration of container activity to reduce logistical costs and avoid resorting to other Tunisian ports.
