Egypt Successfully Conducts Trial Run Of New Extended Channel Of Suez Canal

Egypt has completed a trial run of a new 10-kilometer extension near the southern end of the Suez Canal. The test, conducted on Saturday, allowed two ships to pass through the new channel without any issues, according to the Suez Canal Authority.

It extends the total length of the canal’s two-way traffic section to 82 kilometres, compared to the previous 72 kilometres.

The Suez Canal Authority said that the extension will allow 6 to 8 more ships to pass through daily and will help handle emergencies more effectively, improving the canal’s efficiency and safety.

The project follows the 2021 grounding of the Ever Given, a large container ship that blocked the canal for six days, disrupting global trade.

After that incident, Egypt planned to expand the canal’s southern section and widen existing parts to prevent similar problems in future.

The canal is 193 kilometres long in total and is a key route for global trade, connecting Europe and Asia. However, its revenue has dropped sharply since November 2023, when Yemen’s Houthi militants began attacking ships in the Red Sea.

The attacks carried out in what the Houthis claim is solidarity with the Palestinian militants in Gaza, have forced many ships to take alternative routes.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently said that these attacks have caused the Suez Canal’s revenue to fall by about $7 billion in 2024, a 60% decrease compared to 2023.

The canal had been a major source of foreign currency for Egypt, which is currently facing an economic crisis.

The Suez Canal Authority says that the new extension will also reduce the impact of strong currents and winds on passing ships, which have been a cause of vessels running aground in the past.

The updated section is expected to become fully operational once new navigational maps are prepared.

In 2015, Egypt completed an $8 billion expansion project to the canal. Earlier this year, the Suez Canal Authority said it was considering more development projects to improve the canal’s capacity and ensure its long-term reliability.

References: Reuters, Indian Express

Source: Maritime Shipping News