The Suez Canal Duplication Project has proven to be an undeniable success with the successful completion of the trial operation in the Lesser Bitter Lakes Canal area. Under the leadership of Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, this breakthrough marks a significant turning point in the development of the southern sector of the canal.
During this trial phase, two vessels successfully passed through the new navigation channel of the Suez Canal, following the completion of dredging works between kilometer 122 and kilometer 132. This milestone was marked by the passage of the bulk vessel FU XING HAI and the vessel SUVARI BEY from the canal duplication area in the Lesser Bitter Lakes to the new channel of the canal, as part of a convoy heading south.
Meanwhile, four ships also passed through the canal from its original eastern side, namely the container ship MATHILDE SCHULTE, the multipurpose ship COSCO SHIPPING TENG Da, the bulk ship YANGTZE ALPHA and the ship RUI FU Cheng.
Osama Rabie stressed that this two-part southern sector development project represents a real leap forward that will contribute to enhancing the safety of navigation in the canal and reducing the effects of water and air currents on transiting ships.
He mentioned the many navigational benefits that this project will bring, by increasing the duplication area by 10 km to be added to the New Suez Canal, thus increasing its length to 82 km instead of 72 km. This will increase the canal’s capacity by an average of six to eight additional ships per day, while strengthening the response capacity to possible emergencies.
This achievement demonstrates Egypt’s unwavering commitment to the modernization and continued development of the Suez Canal, a crucial waterway for global trade. This major project opens new perspectives for the future of maritime transport by providing improved passage conditions and increased capacity, which will benefit the international economy and strengthen the strategic position of the Suez Canal on the global stage.