East Port Said Canal will be officially inaugurated on the 24th of February 2016, according to Vice admiral Mohab Mameesh, Head of Suez Canal Authority.
The East Port Said Canal extends from the northern entrance of the Suez Canal at the Mediterranean Sea for 9.5 km and a depth of 18.5 meters after dredging nearly 12.5 million cubic meters of soil at a cost of USD 37 million.
The new branch canal aims to facilitate the passage of vessels arriving to and from East Port Said Harbor without hindering the Suez Canal convoys.
In addition, the channel is aimed at allowing smaller vessels in the Mediterranean a twenty-four hour access to the port instead of current eight-hour access.
Assistant Interior Minister Mahmoud el Deeb told the Middle East News Agency that security measures were intensified all over the governorate and along the navigation line of the Suez Canal in preparation for the opening of the East Port Said Canal and the start of its navigation.
World Maritime News Staff