Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority witness the signing of the executive agreement for a JICA grant worth EGP 1 billion to finance the construction and supply of the first-of-its-kind Diving Support Vessel (DSV) for the Suez Canal fleet

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: Today’s agreement represents a high-quality partnership with the Japanese side, reflecting the depth and diversity of bilateral relations in support of key strategic sectors

Admiral Osama Rabie: The Diving Support Vessel is an unprecedented addition to the Suez Canal Authority’s fleet and will significantly enhance the Authority’s maritime rescue capabilities

 

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, witnessed the signing ceremony of the executive agreement for the grant project provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), valued at USD 22 million (equivalent to approximately EGP 1 billion), to finance the construction and supply of the first Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of its kind for the Suez Canal Authority’s fleet.

 

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Yosuke Suzuki, Economic Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan. The agreement was signed by Eng. Ahmed Al-Barbary, Director of the Shipyards Department at the Suez Canal Authority, and Mr. Atsushi Yamamoto, Deputy Chief Representative of the JICA Egypt Office.

 

This agreement comes within the framework of the fruitful cooperation between Egypt and Japan, as the outcome of a series of bilateral consultations between the two sides, and as part of the efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation to strengthen bilateral relations.

 

Under the agreement, the Government of Japan, through JICA, will provide a grant to finance the construction and supply of a Diving Support Vessel for the Suez Canal Authority. The vessel will be deployed for multiple purposes, most notably enhancing navigational safety, towing operations, assisting vessels during maneuvering, and strengthening rapid emergency response capabilities, thereby contributing to the sustainable and safe operation of the Suez Canal.

 

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat stated that today’s agreement represents a high-quality partnership with the Japanese side, reflecting the depth and diversity of bilateral relations across various strategic sectors. She added that the agreement aligns with the directives of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, to advance joint relations and leverage Japanese development expertise and technology in support of Egypt’s development journey.

 

She emphasized that the most notable aspect of today’s agreement is its focus on strengthening the capabilities of the Suez Canal Authority—the global maritime corridor through which approximately 12% of global trade passes—reflecting the Egyptian State’s and political leadership’s commitment to the continuous development of navigation in the Canal, thereby enhancing its global competitiveness as a key hub for international trade.

 

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat further underscored the strategic importance of the Suez Canal as a key contributor to Egypt’s GDP. She noted that despite the challenges faced by the Canal since October 2023 due to regional tensions, which led to a significant decline in navigation traffic, maritime activity has recovered following the historic peace agreement sponsored by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, recording positive growth of 8.6% in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, alongside the gradual return of stability in the Red Sea region.

 

For his part, Admiral Osama Rabie expressed his pride in the long-standing cooperative relationship with JICA across areas related to training, research studies, development, and technical and technological support.

 

The Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority stated that the agreement reflects the strong convergence and depth of bilateral relations, praising the efforts of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and its pivotal role in reaching the final agreement with the Japanese government and JICA.

 

Admiral Rabie affirmed that the Diving Support Vessel constitutes an unprecedented addition to the Authority’s fleet and will significantly enhance the maritime rescue team’s capabilities in diving operations, search and rescue missions, and emergency response—particularly as two rescue tugboats with a bollard pull of 190 tons are scheduled to join the fleet next year.

 

Mr. Yosuke Suzuki, Economic Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, stated that today’s agreement is not merely a form of bilateral cooperation, but a mutually beneficial project that reflects the depth of the strategic partnership and adds a new chapter to the distinguished record of cooperation between the two countries. He noted that the Suez Canal is one of the most important strategic assets for Egyptian and global trade and the global economy, as one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors. Accordingly, Japan affirms its commitment to continued cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority to enhance the safety and security of navigation through the Canal.

 

Mr. Atsushi Yamamoto, Deputy Chief Representative of the JICA Egypt Office, highlighted the depth of bilateral cooperation between the Suez Canal Authority and JICA, which spans nearly 70 years and has witnessed numerous successful joint projects. He expressed his satisfaction with the signing of the executive agreement for the Diving Support Vessel grant, which will contribute to strengthening safety and security systems in the Suez Canal and reinforcing its strategic position as one of the world’s most important maritime passages.

 

The Diving Support Vessel is a technologically advanced unit designed in line with environmental sustainability standards. It operates on a dual-fuel engine system (diesel and natural gas) to reduce carbon emissions and ensure sustainable operations. The vessel is equipped with advanced search and diving systems and essential equipment to support divers safely and efficiently, including two decompression chambers for diving, search, rescue, and recovery operations, as well as a waste treatment unit.

 

The vessel measures 45 meters in length, 10 meters in width, with a draft of 4.5 meters and a total weight of 620 tons. It has a maximum speed of 12 knots and accommodation capacity for up to 29 personnel. The vessel will be fully constructed in Japan using state-of-the-art technology, under the supervision of the Japanese classification society (NK) and in accordance with SOLAS requirements.

 

It is worth noting that the exchanged notes for this grant were signed between H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat and the Japanese Ambassador in August of this year.

Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority witness the signing of the executive agreement for a JICA grant worth EGP 1 billion to finance the construction and supply of the first-of-its-kind Diving Support Vessel (DSV) for the Suez Canal fleet