Suez Canal Expands Two-Way Traffic as Part of Modernization Effort
Suez Canal Authority Enhances Navigation Capacity
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has made significant strides in improving navigation within the canal. Recently, the authority released images showcasing a successful two-way traffic test in the southern section of the waterway. This initiative comes in response to ongoing challenges, including disruptions caused by Houthi attacks on shipping routes south of the canal. The SCA is determined to enhance the canal’s capacity and safety, ensuring it remains a vital artery for global trade.
Successful Two-Way Traffic Test
The recent test conducted by the Suez Canal Authority involved a new two-way traffic lane in an area known as Little Bitter Lake. This section is located south of Great Bitter Lake, which has traditionally served as a waypoint for north and southbound convoys. The new lane adds over six miles (10 km) of navigable water, allowing for simultaneous passage of vessels in both directions. This improvement is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of shipping operations in the canal.
Before the test, the SCA established new navigation buoys and conducted trial maneuvers in their training facility. On December 28, two bulk carriers, the Fu Xing Hai and Suvari Bey, successfully transited through the new lane. Additionally, four vessels, including the containership Mathilde Schulte and cargo ships COSCO Shipping Teng Da, navigated the eastbound channel simultaneously. To ensure safety during the trial, the SCA deployed two escort tugs and utilized experienced pilots to guide the vessels. The authority declared the test a success, paving the way for the new channel to be integrated into regular navigation once updated navigation charts are issued.
Ongoing Modernization Efforts
The Suez Canal Authority’s modernization efforts gained momentum following the 2021 incident involving the Ever Given, which blocked the canal for a week. This incident raised concerns about the canal’s capacity to handle global shipping demands. In response, the SCA has initiated extensive dredging and the creation of additional channel sections. According to Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the SCA, these improvements aim to enhance both capacity and safety. The upgrades will help mitigate the effects of wind and currents, which were contributing factors to the Ever Given’s grounding.
The SCA’s expansion project is ambitious. Once completed, it will add more than 18 miles (30 km) of additional lanes in the southern section of the canal. This expansion is expected to accommodate six to eight more vessels per day. In 2023, the Suez Canal set a record by handling nearly 60 vessels in both north and southbound convoys daily. However, industry experts from BIMCO predict that disruptions and rerouting of ships away from the canal may persist through most of 2025, with a full return of shipping traffic expected by 2026.
Despite these challenges, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirmed that the modernization and expansion efforts will continue. The Houthi attacks have reportedly cost Egypt around $7 billion in lost revenue, approximately 60 percent of the canal’s annual earnings. The SCA remains committed to enhancing the canal’s infrastructure to accommodate larger vessels and respond effectively to future emergencies.
