|
Suez Canal History |
Historical Notes
-
November 30, 1854 the French engineer Ferdinand De-lesseps managed to sign a concession with the Egyptian government to dig the Suez Canal.
-
On April 25, 1859 the digging of the Canal began and continued for ten years.
-
More than 1.5 million Egyptian workers took part, more than 125.000 lost their lives.
-
On November 17,1869 the Suez Canal was opened for navigation.
-
In July 1956, Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal after it had been an
international company for about 87 years. -
The canal was closed to Israeli shipping and cargoes from 1948 to 1975 and to all shipping from 1967 to 1975, following the ARAB-ISRAELI WAR of 1967. Cleared of mines and wreckage, it was reopened in 1975 and enlarged (1976-80).
Suez Canal Facts
-
192 km long - 340 meter wide – 21 meter depth – Max draft 60 feet.
-
The canal can accommodate ULCC’s of Max beam 77.49 meter.
-
The present capacity of the Canal can accommodate more than 25.000 vessels annually.
-
Number of vessels passed through the Canal form 1/1/2000 till 31/12/2000 is 14155.
-
Suez Canal transports 14% of the total world trade, 26% of oil exports, 41% of the total volume of goods and cargo that reach Arab Gulf ports.
-
The Suez Canal shortens considerably the distance between East and West, for instance, 86% of the distance between the Saudi Port of Jeddah to the Black Sea port of Canstanza is saved if compared to the route round the Cape of Good Hope. The distance between Tokyo (Japan) and Rotterdam (Holland) is shortened by 23 % if it goes round Africa.
|
|
|
Home | Services | Directory | Port List | Publications | Contact Us |
|
Please
contact GAC
EGYPT by clicking in the logotype |
