Egypt has successfully tested a new 10-kilometre (6.2-mile) extension to the Suez Canal, aimed at minimizing the impact of strong currents on vessels and increasing the waterway’s capacity.
This significant development comes as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance navigational safety and boost economic activity through one of the world’s most critical maritime routes.
On Saturday, two ships navigated the newly constructed extension, according to a statement from the Suez Canal Authority.
Osama Rabie, the authority’s chief, emphasized that the project would mitigate the effects of water and air currents on passing ships, which have occasionally run aground due to challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and sandstorms.
The testing of the extension follows the infamous blockage of the canal in 2021, when the giant container ship Ever Given became lodged diagonally, disrupting global trade for nearly a week and leading to substantial financial losses.
Expected to increase the canal’s capacity by six to eight additional vessels daily, the new extension is set to open after the issuance of updated navigational maps.
This development is critical for Egypt, which relies heavily on canal revenues, especially as it faces its most severe economic crisis in decades.
Recent estimates by the International Monetary Fund indicate that revenues have plummeted by up to 70 percent since last year, largely due to security threats from Houthi rebels affecting shipping in the Red Sea.
The Suez Canal remains a vital artery for global maritime trade, previously accounting for about 10 percent of the world’s shipping traffic.
