On January 12, Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas H. Goldberger and a team from the U.S. Embassy visited the Suez Canal Development Project at the invitation of Suez Canal Authority Chairman Admiral Mohab Mameesh. The project involves some of the world's largest dredging companies and thousands of pieces of earth-moving equipment to construct a new channel.
Embassy staff had the opportunity to observe the ongoing work closely and were among the first groups to travel by boat on a completed section of the new channel. Upon completion, this development is expected to double the canal's capacity and significantly reduce wait times for ships in transit.
A notable participant in this endeavor is Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, a U.S.-based firm. There is an expectation that more American companies will become involved in the coming months.