The Suez Canal Authority has released images showcasing a successful two-way traffic test conducted in the southern section of the waterway. Despite ongoing disruptions caused by Houthi attacks on shipping in the southern region, the authority is determined to enhance navigation and increase capacity within the canal.
This recent initiative introduces over six miles (10 km) of two-way traffic in an area known as Little Bitter Lake, located south of Great Bitter Lake, which has historically served as a waypoint for alternating north and southbound convoys in the narrower sections of the canal.
The authority has accelerated its modernization efforts following the 2021 incident involving the Ever Given, which blocked the canal for a week and raised significant concerns about global shipping. These efforts include dredging and the construction of additional channel sections. Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Authority, stated that the project aims to enhance both capacity and safety, helping to mitigate the impact of wind and currents—factors that contributed to the Ever Given grounding.
Prior to the test, the authority established new navigation buoys and conducted trial maneuvers in the canal’s training facility. On Saturday, December 28, the bulk carriers Fu Xing Hai (38,800 dwt, registered in Hong Kong) and Suvari Bey (23,900 dwt, registered in St. Vincent and Grenadines) successfully transited through the new lane in Little Bitter Lake. In the eastbound channel, four vessels—including the containership Mathilde Schulte (30,300 dwt, registered in Singapore), cargo ship COSCO Shipping Teng Da (61,600 dwt, registered in China), and bulk carriers Yangtze Alpha (56,700 dwt, registered in the Marshall Islands) and Rui Fu Cheng (55,600 dwt, registered in Liberia)—made concurrent transits.
To ensure safety during the trial, the Suez Canal Authority deployed two escort tugs and utilized experienced pilots to guide the vessels. Following the successful test, the channel will be incorporated into the route as soon as updated navigation charts are available.
This step is part of a broader expansion effort, with the SCA indicating that this stretch can accommodate an additional six to eight vessels per day. In 2023, the Suez Canal set a record by handling nearly 60 vessels in each direction daily. Once the expansion is complete, over 18 miles (30 km) of additional lanes will be added to the southern section of the canal.
However, industry trade group BIMCO has warned in its year-end forecast that disruptions and rerouting of ships away from the Suez Canal are likely to persist throughout most of 2025, with a full return of ships not expected until 2026. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirmed that the ongoing attacks by the Houthi have cost Egypt around $7 billion in lost Suez Canal revenue—approximately 60 percent of the canal’s annual earnings. Nonetheless, he assured that modernization and expansion efforts will continue.
The Suez Canal Authority emphasizes that this program not only prepares the canal for larger vessels but also enhances flexibility and responsiveness to future emergencies.
