Lt General Osama Rabei Highlights Suez Canal Progress

The New Suez Canal project has achieved significant technical and economic advancements since its inauguration 11 years ago. Two channels were constructed instead of one, and the depths were increased to 66 feet to allow larger vessels with carrying capacities of up to 240,000 tons to pass through. The project contributed to reducing transit time by 50%, bringing it down to 11 hours instead of 22 hours, thereby boosting global trade movement. Additionally, the southern section of the canal was developed by increasing its width to 40 meters and its depth to 72 feet, along with extending the dual carriageway for 82 kilometers. These improvements raised navigation efficiency by 28%, with the number of ships crossing daily increasing by an average of 6 to 8 vessels. These upgrades also enhanced safety standards by 28%, supported the Egyptian economy through the localization of the marine units industry—evidenced by exporting two tugboats to Italy and contracting for four more. Furthermore, the expansions helped avoid traffic crises such as ship groundings and restored the canal’s prominence in international shipping routes. Major shipping lines like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have resumed transiting via the canal instead of navigating around the Cape of Good Hope, reflecting its vital role in boosting trade and cementing Egypt’s position as a global logistics hub.

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