Second Suez Canal begins operation

(Baonghean.vn)- On Saturday, July 25, Egypt's MENA news agency reported that the first ships were tested to pass through the second Suez Canal before the canal officially comes into operation on August 6.

The first ship passed through the second Suez Canal on July 25. AFP

Three large ships escorted by helicopters conducted a test passage through the second Suez Canal on July 25. One was a US-flagged ship traveling from Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean, one was a Danish-flagged ship traveling between the US and Singapore, and the last was a Bahraini-flagged ship traveling between Saudi Arabia and Italy.

According to Mr. Mohad Mamich, director of the Suez Canal Management, there will be other ships following the three ships above to pass through the second Suez Canal. Mr. Mamich also said, "everything will be ready in the next 2 to 3 days".

It is known that the second Suez Canal was built parallel to the first Suez Canal that was in operation 145 years ago. When put into use, the new canal can allow larger ships to pass in both directions. Not only that, the time through the canal will also be shortened from 22 hours to only half. According to calculations, by 2023, this canal will bring in revenue of up to 15 billion USD per year, 3 times higher than the revenue of the first canal. And the construction of the second Suez Canal began 1 year ago with a cost of more than 8 billion USD.

The second Suez Canal was opened parallel to the first.

Security was also stepped up as the test took place. The increased security was deemed necessary, especially after hundreds of police and soldiers have been killed in northern Sinai, which borders the Suez Canal, since 2013.

In a statement, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sissi said he was hopeful that the project could help restore Egypt's economic growth and help combat the country's double-digit unemployment rate.

Chu Thanh

(according to Le Monde)