Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority said in a statement on the 15th, Suez Transport Henan section of the waterway has begun dredging operations to broaden the channel, so that it has two-way navigation capacity.
Usama Rabiya, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said in a statement that the plan to widen the waterway in the south section of the Suez Canal will be carried out in phases. Upon completion of the program, it will help shorten the time it takes for ships to pass through the canal, improve navigation efficiency and enhance navigational safety.
On the 11th of this month, Egyptian President Sisi approved the Suez Transport Henan section of the waterway widening plan, which mainly covers the Suez Canal Suez City to the Great Lakes section of about 30 kilometers of waterway, will be based on the previous extension of 40 meters, the maximum depth from about 20 meters to about 22 meters. The plan is expected to be completed within two years.
The Panama-flagged heavy cargo ship Chang-Hui ran aground on 23 March in the new channel of the Suez Canal, causing a blockage in the waterway. After several days of rescue, the stranded cargo ship on March 29 successfully floated. In April, the first large-scale winch dredger purchased by the Suez Canal Authority was delivered to widen the shipping lanes in the Henan section.
The Suez Canal is located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa and connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. The canal revenue is one of the main sources of revenue and foreign exchange reserves for egypt.
