Suez Canal is set to expand by 10 km in the Small Bitter Lakes area, increasing vessel capacity by 6 to 8 additional ships per day.
The SCA has announced the successful trial operation of the duplication project of the Suez Canal in the Small Bitter Lakes. This development forms part of the broader project to enhance the canal’s southern sector.
According to admiral Ossama Rabiee, chairman and managing director of the Suez Canal Authority, two vessels, the bulk carriers Fu Xing Hai and Suvari Bei, transited the new waterway (as part of the trial), in the duplicated area in the Small Bitter Lakes on their voyage amongst vessels of the south-bound convoy. It was in parallel with the transit of four vessels from the eastern lane, the original waterway.
The SCA reports that it has taken numerous measures to ensure the success of the trial operation.
The Suez Canal chairman has highlighted the various navigational advantages of the duplication project of the Canal in the Small Bitter Lakes area by increasing the length of the duplication by 10 km to be added to the New Suez Canal (now 82 km instead of 72 km).
“This will boost the Canal’s accommodation capacity by 6 to 8 additional vessels daily, and improve its ability to handle potential emergencies,” the authority’s statement reads.
Ossama Rabiee also emphasized that the development project of the southern sector of the Canal in its two parts is deemed as a “major qualitative leap that will contribute to enhancing the Canal’s navigational security and reduce the impact of both water and wind currents on the transiting vessels.”
The actual operation of the duplicated sector will start immediately upon issuing the new navigational charts of the Canal that will incorporate the new duplicated part of 10 km in length; starting at km 122 (Canal Marking) to km 132 (Canal Marking), in the Small Bitter Lakes area.
