31.01.13
Tunisian shipping company Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation (CTN) is launching a cargo service between the port of Rades, on the outskirts of Tunis, and Khoms, 105 kilometres east of the Tripoli. It is the first link of its kind between Tunisia and Libya and will officially be opened in mid February. The service is seen as a response to the difficulties faced by Tunisian traders transporting goods to Libya by road. The border crossing at Ras Jedir is frequently closed and, when open, there have been attacks on vehicles on both sides of the border. CTN plan to extend the service from Khoms to Alexandria in Egypt at an as yet undisclosed future date.

The ministers also discussed co-operation between CTN and the Libyan National Shipping Company on chartering ships to transport crude oil between the ports of Skhira and Bizerte.