SCA secures $22M JICA grant for Advanced Diving Support Vessel
The Suez Canal Authority has concluded an executive agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a grant worth USD 22 million, equivalent to around EGP 1 billion, to finance the construction and delivery of a new Diving Support Vessel (DSV).
The agreement provides grant funding from JICA to build and supply the vessel to the Suez Canal Authority, reinforcing its operational readiness across a wide range of maritime tasks.
The DSV is designed to enhance navigational safety, support towing operations, assist vessels during complex maneuvers, and improve the Authority’s capacity to respond swiftly to emergencies, key elements in maintaining the canal’s safe and sustainable operations.
Built to meet advanced environmental standards, the vessel will be powered by a dual-fuel engine system using diesel and natural gas, helping to reduce carbon emissions and align with sustainability goals.
It will also be equipped with modern diving and search technologies, along with essential systems to ensure diver safety and operational efficiency.
These include two decompression chambers to support diving, search, rescue, and recovery missions, in addition to an onboard waste-treatment unit.
The DSV will be 45 meters long and 10 meters wide, with a draft of 4.5 meters, a total displacement of 620 tons, and a maximum speed of 12 knots.
It will accommodate 29 crew members and will be constructed entirely in Japan using cutting-edge technology, under the supervision of NK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai) and in full compliance with SOLAS safety standards.
Commenting on the agreement, Rania Al‑Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, said the project reflects a strategic effort to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Suez Canal Authority, which oversees a global maritime corridor handling about 12 percent of global trade.
She highlighted the canal’s importance as a key contributor to Egypt’s GDP, noting that despite the sharp decline in traffic caused by regional tensions since October 2023, the easing of geopolitical pressures has helped restore confidence.
According to Al-Mashat, navigation activity in the canal posted positive growth of 8.6 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, supported by a gradual return of stability in the Red Sea region.