Statistics
Item | Length |
Overall length | 192,548 km |
From Fairway buoys to Port Said lighthouse | 11,040 km |
From the waiting area to the Southern entrance | 10,010 km |
From Port Said to Ismailia | 78,500 km |
From Ismailia to Port Tewfik | 83,750 km |
Length of the by passes (double channels) | 77,5 km |
Breadth at water level | 280-345 m |
Breadth between buoys | 180-210 m |
Max permissible draft | 58 ft (17,68 m) |
Cross sectional area | 3900-4500 mē |
Projected expansion | 4000-4700 mē |
Max speed for loaded tankers | 13 km/hr |
Max speed for tankers in ballast | 14 km/hr |
Max speed for other vessels | 14 km/hr |
Depth of the navigable channel | 19,5-24,5 m |
Width of the canal | 300-365 m |
By Passes | Length |
Port Said by pass | 36,5 km |
Ballah by pass | 9 km |
Timsah by pass | 5 km |
Deversoir by pass | 27 km |
From the Mediterranean the canal is entered between two light
buoys at the south end of Husein Basin. There is an additional channel east of the main
channel which rejoins about 2,5 km south of the entrance. A channel from km 17 on the
canal to the Mediterranean Sea, giving access to vessels in/out of the canal without
passing by Port Said harbour.
The canal runs south and passes side by side with Lake Manzala, thence to lake Timsah,
(midway point at km 78.5 - Ismailia Town), where the headquarters of the Suez Canal
Authority is located, who have a radio station for communication with vessels in transit.
The canal then runs into the Great and Bitter Lakes following a course to the south of
Port Tewfik, between two light buoys. The average transit time is about 14 hours. The
numerical capacity of the canal is about 76 vessels per day.