CAIRO: A total of 130 commercial ships have passed through the New Suez Canal since it was inaugurated August 6, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Mohab Mamish said Tuesday.
Twenty two ships have crossed the canal on Friday, 26 on Saturday, 28 on Sunday, 26 on Monday and 28 on Tuesday, according to Mamish.
An official report issued by the SCA revealed the North convoy saw the crossing of 29 vessels weighing 1,000,339 tons. The Hong Kong container ship, OOCL COREA, the largest load of the share, weighing 148 thousand tons has traveled from Rotterdam to Saudi Arabia.
The fleet sailing from south to north comprised 28 ships weighing 1.0007 million tons. The Panamanian container ship, MSC ISCTAMBO, the largest load of the share, weighing 182 thousand tons has traveled from India to Gibraltar.
Marstal Maersk; the world’s largest container ship has crossed the canal Sunday, coming from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
“The Suez Canal’s is expected to generate $13.4 billion by 2023,” Mamish told Al Watan. The canal will also increase the capacity to 97 ships per day instead of 45, according to Al Ahram.
He added that the convoy system was modified and the waterway channel will pass only two cargo vessels instead of three.