The Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie on Saturday announced that the trial operation of the Suez Canal duplication project in the Small Bitter Lakes as part of the southern sector development project of the canal, has been a success.
Rabie explained that two ships crossed the new navigational channel of the Suez Canal after completing dredging work from kilometer 122 of the Suez Canal to kilometer 132.
The navigation movement in the canal saw the passage of both the bulk ship FU XING HAI and the ship SUVARI BEY from the canal duplication area in the Small Bitter Lakes into the new channel of the canal during their journey within the convoy heading south, he added.
This came in parallel with the passage of four ships from the eastern side of the original canal, namely the container ship MATHILDE SCHULTE, the multi-purpose ship COSCO SHIPPING TENG Da, the bulk ship YANGTZE ALPHA, and the ship RUI FU Cheng.
Rabie stated that the development project of the southern sector in its two parts is a major qualitative leap that will contribute to enhancing navigational safety in the canal and reducing the effects of water and air currents on passing ships.
He noted the many navigational advantages that the project will achieve through increasing the duplication area by 10 km to be added to the New Suez Canal, bringing its length to 82 km instead of 72 km.
This will contribute to increasing the canal’s capacity by an average of six to eight additional ships per day, in addition to increasing the ability to deal with potential emergencies, he explained.
