Egypt, Japan sign $22 mn deal to build Suez Canal dive support vessel

Egypt and Japan have signed a $22 million (EGP 1 billion) grant agreement to finance the construction of the first Dive Support Vessel (DSV) for the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), marking a new milestone in bilateral cooperation.

According to an official statement from the Suez Canal Authority, the agreement was signed through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and was witnessed by Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, and SCA Chairman Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, alongside Japanese representatives.

The project aims to enhance navigational safety, emergency response, and marine rescue capabilities in the Suez Canal, a key global waterway that facilitates around 12% of international trade. The new vessel is expected to strengthen the canal’s operational efficiency and reinforce its strategic role in global maritime transport.

The DSV will be constructed entirely in Japan using advanced technologies and in compliance with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements. The vessel will measure 45 metres in length and 10 metres in width, with a draft of 4.5 metres and a total displacement of 620 tonnes. It will have a maximum speed of 12 knots and an accommodation capacity for 29 personnel.

Construction will be carried out under the supervision of the Japanese engineering and construction company NK, with the vessel designed to meet modern environmental and safety standards.

The Suez Canal Authority said the agreement reflects the depth of Egyptian-Japanese cooperation and supports efforts to improve maritime safety and operational readiness along the canal.

The exchange of letters related to the grant was signed in August between Dr. Al-Mashat and the Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, paving the way for the formal agreement concluded this month.