Egypt has successfully tested a new 10-kilometre (6.2-mile) extension to the Suez Canal, aiming to reduce the impact of currents on shipping and increase the waterway’s capacity. The test was conducted on Saturday, with two ships navigating the newly expanded section, as confirmed by the Suez Canal Authority.
Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority, stated that the extension in the canal’s southern region would enhance navigational safety and reduce the effects of water and air currents on passing ships. Strong winds and sandstorms have previously caused vessels to run aground in the canal, with the most notable incident occurring in 2021 when the giant container ship Ever Given became lodged in the canal, blocking trade for nearly a week and causing delays that cost billions of dollars.
The new extension is expected to increase the canal’s capacity by an additional six to eight vessels per day. Rabie confirmed that the extension would officially open once updated navigational maps are issued.
In 2015, Egypt undertook an $8-billion expansion of the canal, followed by several smaller development projects. The Suez Canal remains a crucial source of foreign currency for Egypt, especially as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis.
However, revenue from the canal has been severely impacted, dropping by up to 70 percent since last year, largely due to attacks by Yemen’s Huthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea, in retaliation to Israel’s ongoing invasion of Palestine. Before the attacks, the Suez Canal accounted for approximately 10 percent of global maritime trade.
