Egypt tests new extension of the Suez Canal

Egypt has tested a new 10-kilometer extension to the Suez Canal. This aims to minimize the impact of currents on shipping and increase capacity. Two ships used the extension already. The new extension will enhance safety and reduce delays caused by currents. The full opening awaits new navigational maps.

Two ships used the new extension, a statement from the Suez Canal Authority said.

Vessels navigating the waterway have at times run aground, mostly because of strong winds and sandstorms. In 2021, the giant container ship Ever Given became wedged diagonally in the canal, blocking trade for nearly a week and resulting in delays that cost billions of dollars. The new extension is set to boost the canal’s capacity by six to eight vessels a day, and it will open after new navigational maps are issued.

In 2015, Egypt undertook an $8-billion expansion to the waterway, followed by several smaller development projects. The Suez Canal has long been a vital source of foreign currency for Egypt, which has been undergoing its worst-ever economic crisis. According to the International Monetary Fund, revenue from the canal has been slashed by up to 70 percent since last year because of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.

 Before the attacks pushed companies to change routes, the vital passage accounted for around 10 percent of global maritime trade.