Advantages of Suez Canal

Longest Canal in world with no locks

Percentage of accidents is almost nil Compared with other waterways.

Navigation goes day and night.

Liable to be widened and deepened when required to cope with the expansion in ship size.

The VTMS (Vessel Traffic Management System) has been introduced. It is a very accurate electronic system envisaging a most up to date radar network.

The Suez Canal can now accommodate all mammoth tanker in service on their ballast trips.

Importance of the Suez Canal

The unique geographical position of the Suez Canal makes it of special importance to the world and to Egypt as well.

This importance is getting augmented with the evolution of maritime transport and world trade.

The maritime transport is the cheapest means of transport, whereas more 80% of the world trade volume is transported by means of sea routes.

Saving in time and in operation costs for vessels that transit the Canal, also consolidate this importance.

 

Historical Outline

Egypt was the first country to dig a man–made canal across its lands to connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via the River Nile and its branches, and the first who dug it was Senausret III, pharaoh of Egypt (1874 B.C.) This Canal was abandoned to silting and reopened several times as follows:

Canal fo Sity I: 1310 B.C.

Canal of Nkhaw: 610 B.C.

Canal of Darius I: 510 B.C.

Canal of Ptolemy II: 285 B.C.

Canal of the Romans: 117 B.C.

Canal of Amir El Moemeneen: 640 A.D.

 

Following the Islamic conquest and remained open for 150 years.

The Suez Canal is actually the first Canal directly linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.  It was opened for international navigation on 17 November 1869.

Egypt nationalized its Canal on 26 July 1956.

The Canal was closed five times, the last time was most serious since it lasted for 8 years.

The Canal was then reopened for navigation on 5 Jun 1975.

 

Characteristics of the Present Canal

Overall Length	190.25km
From the fairway buoy to Port-Said lighthouse	19.50km
From the waiting area to the southern entrance	8.50km
From Port-Said to Ismailia	78.50km
From Ismailia to Port-Tewfik	83.75km
The length of double parts	78km
Width at water level (North / South)	345 / 280m
Width between buoys (North / South)	210 / 195m
Maximum permissible draught for ships	62ft
Cross sectional area (North/South)	4800 / 4350m2
Maximum deadweight tonnage	210000tons
Permissible speed for loaded Tankers	14km/hr
Permissible speed for ballast Tankers and ships	13km/hr