Egypt to Build New Canal

Mohab Mamish, a Chairperson for the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has said that Egypt is planning to build a new 9.5-kilometre canal to allow ships to enter the Suez Canal via the northern point of Port Said, according to the Cairo Post.

The Suez Canal is edging closer to completion and began its first trials for cargo ships on Saturday July 25, 2015.

The SCA has agreed to contract the ‘Alliance of Challenge’ – a combination of more than six companies that have already completed the dredging of the new Suez Canal.

Mohab Mamish said: “So we have decided to resume the project with the Alliance of Challenge. The new canal will increase the economic value of the area.”

The companies tasked with digging the new canal under the Alliance of Challenge include Dutch dredging company Boskalis, Van Oord, and Belgian group Jan De Nul.

The new canal is designed to cut waiting times at the northern terminus so that ships coming from Port Said can sail straight through the Suez Canal.