Egypt's Suez Canal to acquire giant dredgers in April, August within development plan

CAIRO – 8 April 2021: Chairman of Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie stated Thursday that two dredgers whose height is 147.5 meters and can dig to a depth of up to 35 meters will be delivered on April 9 and in August.

The dredger that will be delivered Friday is dubbed "Mohab Mamish," and that to arrive in summer is called "Hussein Tantawy."

The dredgers' purchase is part of a plan to develop the authority by 2026. That includes developing the maritime fleet, including dredgers, tugboats, and boats used to transport guides.  

The chairman indicated that the number of ships that cross the Suez Canal daily is 85 and that 84 crossed over the past 24 hours carrying the heaviest load since the waterway was launched in 1869 as it weights 6.1 million tons.

Rabie also pointed out that 422 ships had crossed when MV EVER GIVEN was still stuck. Those were waiting in Port Said, Suez, and Bitter Lakes. In that context, he affirmed that the accident has nothing to do with the depth as it occurred in the deepest spot of the canal. The official added that all the tugboats used in refloating the container ship are Egyptian, except for one that was rented from the Netherlands.

The Suez Canal chairman asserted that the ship will remain in the Bitter Lakes until the investigation is over. "The Canal was dead for six years," the official noted.

Rabie had stated earlier that the analysis of the Black Box is underway and that the primary estimation of the Suez Canal losses is $1 billion.