A ceremony is held by Egyptian Suez Canal Authority to celebrate the recent arrival of a giant cutter suction dredger named Hussein Tantawy in Ismailia Province, Egypt, on Aug. 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

New dredger to ensure ships’ safe passage at Suez Canal

Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) on Wednesday celebrated the recent arrival of a giant cutter suction dredger named Hussein Tantawy, which is the largest and most advanced of its kind in the Middle East and Africa.

The dredger, which is 147.4 meters long, 23 meters wide and can provide a maximum dredging depth of 35 meters, will help ensure the safe passage of ships and future expansion of the Suez Canal. Back in March this year, a giant container ship named Ever Given blocked the canal’s waterway for six days and even disrupted the global trade after running aground amid high winds.