According to the ministry, inspectors from the Nile Protection and Development Sector in Luxor monitored the vessel releasing liquid waste into the river while conducting an inspection along the Nile Corniche in the Awamiya district of Luxor city, on the east bank of the Nile.
The ministry said authorities filed an environmental violation report and referred the case to the Public Prosecution after registering it with the Environmental and Water Bodies Police.
As an administrative measure, the ministry cancelled the vessel's navigation permit for the period from 1 July to 31 July 2026, citing its breach of permit conditions.
The ministry also notified the Tourist Floating Hotels Security Police, the Environmental and Water Bodies Police, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), the River Transport Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to take any measures within their respective jurisdictions.
The ministry noted that Law No. 48 of 1982 provides for penalties of up to one year in prison and fines ranging from LE50,000 to LE200,000 for polluting the Nile or other waterways, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
Under the Egyptian law on protecting the Nile and waterways from pollution, offenders face up to one year in prison and fines ranging from EGP 50,000 ($1,000) to EGP 200,000 ($4,000), with tougher penalties for repeat violations. The law also requires offenders to remedy environmental damage or bear the cost of government-led cleanup.
The ministry stressed that it will not tolerate violations that threaten the Nile or affect water quality, reaffirming its commitment to strictly enforcing environmental regulations to protect Egypt's primary water resource.
It also praised citizens for their role in safeguarding the Nile and urged the public to continue reporting any activities that could pollute the river or other waterways so that authorities can respond swiftly and take legal action.
Earlier, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam ordered a strict nationwide inspection campaign on canals and waterways, warning that violators who obstruct water flow or dump waste into the Nile and other waterways could face imprisonment and fines of up to EGP 500,000 ($10,000).
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