As part of its efforts to transition into a green canal, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to provide a cooperation framework in the areas of environmental sustainability and decarbonisation.
According to Osama Rabie, the SCA chairman, the signing of the MoU demonstrates the SCA’s environment-friendly strategy that aims to declare the Suez Canal a Green Canal.
The authority aims to promote cooperation with all organisations in the field of maritime transport and environmental sustainability and decarbonisation, he further added.
However, Mr. Rabie noted that the Suez Canal’s green transition had started before this agreement, referring to the SCA’s current reliance on clean energy to both operate the pilotage stations along the canal and respond to oil spills.
He also mentioned that the recent development project of the canal’s navigational course is a key factor in achieving environmental sustainability, as it managed to raise the canal’s efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.
What is more, SCA also encourages its customers to use environmentally friendly fuels through a package of incentives that includes providing ships with LNG and applying environmental safety standards.
Recently, National Marine Dredging won a $272-million contract to dredge a section of the Suez Canal where the Panamanian container ship Ever Given ran aground in 2021.
The project is expected to be completed during 2023, and will extend the canal’s dual-lane capacity in its southern portion from 72 km to 82 km.
The dredging project is part of the Suez Canal Area Development project, an ongoing drive by the Suez Canal Authority, to expand and deepen it to accommodate larger ships and improve traffic safety.
