Japan will provide a grant of one billion Egyptian pounds (US$22 million) to Egypt to build a specialised diving support vessel for the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), officials said.
The funding, provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be used to construct and supply a first-of-its-kind vessel aimed at enhancing maritime safety, emergency response and the sustainable operation of the canal.
An executive agreement was signed in Cairo in the presence of Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and SCA chairman Osama Rabie. The document was signed by SCA Shipyards Director Ahmed El-Barbary and JICA Egypt representative Yamamoto Atsushi, with officials from the Japanese embassy also attending.
The vessel will support towing operations, assist ship manoeuvring and respond to maritime emergencies, including diving, search and recovery missions, the SCA said.
Al-Mashat said the agreement reflects long-standing cooperation between Egypt and Japan and supports efforts to strengthen the canal’s operational resilience. She noted that the Suez Canal handles about 12 percent of global trade and remains a key contributor to Egypt’s economy.
Rabie described the vessel as an unprecedented addition to the SCA fleet, adding that two high-capacity rescue tugs are also expected to join the fleet next year.
The 45-metre vessel will be built in Japan in accordance with international safety standards and under the supervision of Japan’s classification society. It will feature a dual-fuel engine running on diesel and natural gas to reduce emissions, accommodation for 29 people, and specialised equipment including decompression chambers for diving operations.
JICA said its cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority spans nearly 70 years and that the new vessel would reinforce the canal’s role as a critical global maritime corridor.
