… using the section of the Canal opened recently to allow ships to sail in both directions at the same time. The project to widen and improve the canal began in August 2014, and includes the development of three new canal cities, an industrial zone, fish farms, and seven new tunnels. The Suez Canal connects Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea with the port of Suez on the Red Sea, and carries almost 8% of the world’s shipping traffic. Fifty ships use the Canal each day, with the 98 mile transit taking about 15 hours. The first canal connecting the Red and Mediterranean Seas was dug four thousand years ago by Egyptian Pharaoh Senausret III (1887-1849 BCE). In 1799, Napoleon’s engineers discovered the ruins of the ancient east-west canal. Construction of a new north-south canal was discussed for years; the actual project took 10 years, with the Canal opening in 1869.
We entered the Canal about 6:15 am and exited about 4:00 pm. Because there are no locks, the trip passes quickly, and the scenery changes constantly, including small villages, fishermen, soldiers, mosques, construction camps and monuments. The weather was perfect: warm and sunny, with a light breeze.
We had three different local pilots for different parts of the Canal, each arriving with a flourish. As a special provision, the ship had to hoist up a small get-away boat beside the ship in case the pilot needed to abandon ship. He was raised and lowered in this boat.
Remote guardhouses stand along the length of the Canal, and all seem to be manned. Ferry boats loaded with cars and people ply the Canal. The old and new portions of the canal are rejoined shortly before the beautiful bridge which spans the entire canal. Frank enjoyed the scenery. Near the end of the canal we discovered what must be the Great Wall of Egypt …
It was a relaxing day!
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