SCA conducts successful trial operation of doubling project in Bitter Lakes
Updated 12/29/2024 8:15:00 AM
Arab Finance: The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced the successful trial operation of the Suez Canal doubling project in the Bitter Lakes, SCA's Chairman Osama Rabie announced in a statement.
The trial involved the passage of two ships, the bulk vessel FU XING HAI and the ship SUVARI BEY, through the newly dredged channel, stretching from kilometer 122 to kilometer 132 of the canal.
During the trial, the two ships passed through the new navigation channel in the Bitter Lakes area, running parallel to four other ships traveling in the original canal.
These included the container ship MATHILDE SCHULTE, the multi-purpose vessel COSCO SHIPPING TENG Da, the bulk carrier YANGTZE ALPHA, and the ship RUI FU Cheng, all heading south as part of the southbound convoy.
Rabie highlighted the meticulous preparation and measures taken for the trial’s success.
These included equipping the new channel with buoys and necessary navigational aids, appointing two accompanying tugs for navigational insurance, and deploying experienced canal guides.
In addition, a trial maneuver and simulation exercises were conducted at the Maritime Training Academy to ensure safe passage.
The project is part of the larger southern sector development, which aims to enhance the canal’s navigational safety and operational capacity.
The project’s completion will increase the duplication area by 10 kilometers, bringing the total length of the New Suez Canal to 82 kilometers. This expansion is expected to add 6 to 8 additional ships to the canal’s daily capacity, significantly improving traffic flow and the canal's ability to handle emergencies.
As the next step, the SCA is coordinating with the Egyptian Navy Hydrographic Department (ENHD) to issue new navigational maps that incorporate the newly doubled section.
Full operational use of the expanded channel will begin once these updated maps are issued.
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