Suez Canal

Suez Canal
What is Suez Canal?

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, Port Said

connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the

Isthmus of Suez.
Constructed by the Suez Canal Company between 1859 and 1869, it
officially opened on 17 November 1869.

The canal offers watercraft a more direct route between the North
Atlantic and northern Indian oceans via the Mediterranean and Red
seas, thus avoiding the South Atlantic and southern Indian oceans
and reducing the journey distance.
It extends from the northern terminus of Port Said to the southern
terminus of Port Tewfik at the city of Suez. Suez
Its length is 193.30 km including its northern and southern access-
channels.
History
How Suez Canal evolved over the years?

 2,000 BC: Pharaoh Senusret III created a link between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea

 The canal was abandoned to silting and reopened several times over the centuries.

 1799: Napoleon Bonaparte revives the idea

 1859 – 1869: The modern Suez Canal is built

 1956: Egypt nationalized the canal

 1967 – 1975: Blocked due to Arab-Israeli War

Characteristics
What are the salient features of Suez Canal?

Length 193.3 km (120.1 miles)

Maximum Beam 77.5 m (254 ft 3 in)
Maximum Draft 20.1 m (66 ft)
Maximum Air Draft 68 m (223 ft)
Maximum Deadweight Allowed 240,000 DWT

 The major northbound cargoes consist of crude petroleum and petroleum products, coal, ores and
metals, and fabricated metals, as well as wood, oilseeds and oilseed cake, and cereals.

 Southbound traffic consists of cement, fertilizers, fabricated metals, cereals, and empty oil tankers.

 In 2019, about 18,880 vessels crossed the canal with daily average of 52 vessels and amounting to
more than 1,207 million in net annual tonnage.
Geography
What how Suez Canal’s geographic location is useful?
Navigation
How ships navigate through Suez Canal?
Role in International Trade
What is the importance of Suez Canal?

 The geographic location of the Suez Canal makes it the shortest route between the East and West as
compared to Cape of Good Hope.

 The Canal route achieves a saving in distance which translates into saving time, fuel and ship operating
costs.

 13 percent of the volume of world trade passes through the Suez Canal.

 The Canal is capable of being widened and deepened when required, to cope with the development in
ship sizes and tonnages.
Thank You