This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
First opened in 1869, the Suez Canal has undergone numerous transformations, making it a crucial waterway for international maritime trade, handling around 10% of global trade.
Early Years ¶
Initially, the canal was 164 kilometres long and eight metres deep, accommodating ships of up to 5,000 tons, which was the bulk of the world's fleet at the time, according to the Suez Canal Authority.
By 1887, the canal had been modernised to allow night navigation, effectively doubling its capacity.
Expansion in the 1950s ¶
It wasn't until the 1950s that the waterway underwent significant expansion, deepening, and lengthening, following demands from shipping companies.
By 1956, when it was nationalised by Egypt's President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the canal had grown to 175 kilometres in length and 14 metres in depth, capable of handling tankers with a capacity of 30,000 tons to a depth of 10.7 metres.
21st Century Developments ¶
A major expansion in 2015 increased the canal's length to 193.30 kilometres and its depth to 24 metres, allowing it to handle supertankers with a capacity of 240,000 tons, some of the largest in the world.
As of 2019, around 50 ships used the canal daily, compared to just three in 1869. The authority expects traffic to almost double by 2023, with two-way circulation reducing waiting times.
Fastest Route ¶
The Suez Canal is the fastest crossing from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, but it comes with hefty passage tolls.
Most oil transported by sea passes through the Suez Canal, with the journey between ports in the Gulf and London being roughly halved by going through the Suez, compared to the alternate route via the southern tip of Africa.
