SUEZ CANAL PASSAGE (day 108)

"The SUEZ CANAL in EGYPT connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez. After 10 years of construction, it was officially opened on November 17, 1869. The canal allows ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around Africa, thereby reducing the sea voyage distance by about 4,300 mi. It extends from the north of Port Said to the south of Port Tewfik at the city of Suez. Its length is 120.11 mi, including its northern and southern access channels. In 2012, 47 vessels traversed the canal per day).

The canal is a single-lane waterway with passing locations in the Ballah Bypass and the Great Bitter Lake. It contains no locks system, with seawater flowing freely through it. In general, the canal north of the Bitter Lakes flows north in winter and south in summer. 

The canal is owned and maintained by the Suez Canal Authority(SCA) of Egypt. Under the Convention of Constantinople, it may be used "in time of war as in time of peace, by every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag."

In August 2014, construction was launched to expand and widen the Ballah Bypass for 22 mi to speed the canal's transit time. The expansion is expected to double the capacity of the Suez Canal from 49 to 97 ships a day. At a cost of $8.4 billion, this project was funded with interest-bearing investment certificates issued exclusively to Egyptian entities and individuals. The "New Suez Canal", as the expansion was dubbed, was opened with great fanfare.  Vessels can now pass each other anytime of the day or night. without waiting."

WE ENTERED THE CANAL GOING NORTH IN THE GULF OF SUEZ

ALL SHIPS ARE A PART OF A CONVOY

THERE IS SAND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CANAL THERE IS ONLY ONE METER DIFFERENCE IN THE HIGHT OF THE RED SEA & THE MEDITERRANEAN OCEAN ON THE OTHER END

THEREFORE THERE ARE NO LOCKS.

WE ARE  TRAVERSING THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE CANAL IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE ANOTHER VESSEL & A BRIDGE ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE CANAL

STATUARY, MONUMENTS, & MOSQUES LINE BOTH SIDES OF THE CANAL

THIS STATUE IS IN ISMAILIA AT GATE TOTHE CANALS ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS 

SHIP THAT WAS A PART OF OUR CARAVAN TURNING INTO A CANAL

CANALS FEED THE SUEZ AS WELL AS PROVIDE OUTLETS

PORT SAID IS A COMMERCIAL PORT AS WELL AS A SHIPBUILDING CENTER

MOSQUE  & FERRY DOCK IN PORT SAID

ANOTHER PORT SAID FERRY

AFTER AN ALL DAY TRANSIT

WE ARE ENTERING THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

It has cost the Egyptian Government $8 million to add the "New Canal" at the present time it is questionable as to whether or not they will see return on their investment?

THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT IS HOPING THAT THE ADDITION OF "THE NEW SUEZ CANAL" 

"EGYPTS GIFT TO THE WORLD"

WILL BRING BACK EGYPT'S GLORIOUS PAST