Suez Canal

Suez Canal

Historical Outline
Egypt was the first country to dig a manmade canal across its lands to
connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via the River Nile and its
branches, and the first who dug it was Senausret III, pharaoh of Egypt
( 1874 B.C. ). This Canal was abandoned to silting and reopened several times
as follows :
- Canal fo Sity I
1310 B.C.
- Canal of Nkhaw
610 B.C.
- Canal of Darius I
510 B.C.
- Canal of Ptolemy II
285 B.C.
- Canal of the Romans
117 B.C.
- Canal of Amir El Moemeneen
640 A.D.
Following the Islamic conquest and remained open for 150 years.
-The Suez Canal is actually the first Canal directly linking the
Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It was opened for international
navigation on 17 November 1869.
- Egypt nationalized its Canal on 26 July 1956.
- The Canal was closed five times, the last time was most serious since it
lasted for 8 years.
- The Canal was then reopened for navigation on 5 Jun 1975.

A historical photo for the first canal that dug by

Senausret III Pharaoh of Egypt ( 1874 B.C. )

Starting the excavation of the Suez Canal

from Port Said on 25 th. April 1859

Excavation Works of the Suez Canal

An old dredger participated in the excavation of

the Suez Canal

Dredger and cranes used during the excavation

of the Suez Canal

Dredger works of the Suez Canal in Al Kantara area

A photo for Lake Timsah in the middle of the Suez Canal

The navigable channel, close to El Shallufa area

Ali pasha Mubarak opens the sandy barrage

at the plain of Suez

The First Sailboat that transited the Suez Canal from Port Said
to Ismailia and from Ismailia to Suez through the Sweet water canal

The Suez Canal inauguration ceremony on 17 th. Nov. 1869

A convoy while transiting the Suez Canal

upon inauguration ceremony of the canal

The house of Ferdinand de L esseps in Ismailia 1869

The statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps at the northern

entrance of the Canal in Port Said

Characteristics of the Present Canal

Overall Length

190.25 km

From the fairway buoy to Port-Said lighthouse

19.50

km

From the waiting area to the southern entrance

8.50

km

From Port-Said to Ismailia

78.50

km

From Ismailia to Port-Tewfik

83.75

km

78

km

The length of double parts

Width at water level ( North / South )

345 / 280 m

Width between buoys ( North / South )

210 / 195

Maximum permissible draught for ships

Cross sectional area (North/South)
Maximum deadweight tonnage

62

ft

4800 / 4350 m2
210000

tons

Permissible speed for loaded Tankers

14

km/hr

Permissible speed for ballast Tankers and ships

13

km/hr

Advantages of Suez Canal

Longest Canal in world with no locks

Percentage of accidents is almost nil Compared with
other waterways

Navigation goes day and night

Liable to be widened and deepened when required to
cope with the expansion in ship size

The VTMS (Vessel Traffic Management System) has

been introduced. It is a very accurate electronic
system envisaging a most up to date radar network
The Suez Canal can now accommodate all mammoth
tanker in service on their ballast trips

Importance of the Suez Canal

The unique geographical position of the Suez Canal

makes it of special importance to the world and to
Egypt as well
This importance is getting augmented with the
evolution of maritime transport and world trade

The maritime transport is the cheapest means of

transport, whereas more 80% of the world trade
volume is transported by means of sea routes
Saving in time and in operation costs for vessels that
transit the Canal, also consolidate this importance

Saving in distance via the Canal and the Cape

From

To

Distance
( Nautical miles )

Saving

SC

Cape

Miles

Constanza

4144

12094

7950

66 %

Lavera

4684

10783

6099

57 %

Rotterdam

6436

11169

4733

42 %

New
Orleans

9645

12299

2654

22 %

Piraeus

1320

11207

9887

88 %

Rotterdam

6337

10743

4406

41 %

Tokyo

Rotterdam

11192

14507

3315

23 %

Singapore

Rotterdam

8288

11755

3647

29 %

Ras Tanura

Jeddah

Via S. Canal
km 1320

Piraeus

Jeddah

Via Cape
km 11207

Saving in distance via the Canal

From Jeddah to Piraeus( 9887 km - 88% )

Rotterdam

Via S. Canal
km11192

Tokyo

Via Cape
km 14507

Saving in distance via the Canal

From Tokyo to Rotterdam ( 3315 km - 23% )

Suez Canal Authority

Thanks ..

The SCA spares no efforts

for the sake of ensuring a safe and secure service
for all transiting vessels and world trade;
thus contributing to the prosperity of the world