The Suez Canal

We have been delayed posting due to the very slow ship WiFi but here is the Suez Canal passage.

It was very interesting, even more so than the Panama Canal passage, as it is much longer and has no locks. Everywhere was evidence of the past war history of the region, with many barges and pontoons in readiness along the Egyptian side of the canal.

We reached the holding area late in the afternoon and had to wait until early the next morning for the south-bound convoy to commence sailing. The transit took all day, not reaching the Red Sea until late afternoon.

Around the half way point there is a large road bridge across to the Sinai peninsular and a rail swing bridge that does not appear to have been used for quire some time.

There is now a passing area that allows for the south and north bound convoys to transit at the same time, thereby reducing the time considerably. This appears to be a recent construction, with sand heaped along the canal high enough to block ships in the opposite channel.