Egypt inks $22m Japanese grant for Suez Canal’s first-ever diving support vessel
Egypt on Sunday signed an executive agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to secure a $22 million (1 billion Egyptian pounds) grant to fund the Suez Canal Authority’s first-ever Diving Support Vessel (DSV).
The signing was witnessed by Egypt’s Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat and Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie, and attended by Yusuke Suzuki, Economic Counselor at the Japanese Embassy in Cairo.
Al-Mashat described the project as a “strategic partnership with Japan reflecting the depth and diversity of bilateral relations,” and said it aligns with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to leverage Japanese expertise to support Egypt’s development.
The DSV will carry out multiple functions, including enhancing maritime safety, assisting vessels with towing and manoeuvring, and boosting rapid-response capabilities during emergencies, supporting the safe and sustainable operation of the Suez Canal, which handles roughly 12 per cent of global trade.
Admiral Rabie said the vessel is an “unprecedented addition” to the SCA fleet and will significantly aid the marine rescue team in diving operations, search and rescue, and emergency responses. Two 190-ton rescue tugs are also expected to join the fleet next year.
Japanese officials described the grant as a mutually beneficial project reflecting the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The vessel, to be built in Japan, will measure 45 metres in length and 10 metres in width, with a draft of 4.5 metres, a total displacement of 620 tons, and a top speed of 12 knots. It will feature dual-fuel engines to reduce carbon emissions, pressure chambers for diving operations, waste treatment facilities, and accommodation for 29 personnel, complying with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention standards under the supervision of the Japanese classification society NK.
The grant follows an initial exchange of letters signed in August and marks a milestone in long-standing Egypt-Japan cooperation in maritime safety, technology, and development.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English