Egyptians excited as country holds first trial run

World Today

Adel El Mahrouky

Boats, including a container ship, cross the new waterway of the Suez canal on July 25, 2015, in the Egyptian port city of Ismailia, east of Cairo. Egypt began the first trial run of its “new Suez canal,” officials and state media said, ahead of the formal inauguration of the new shipping route on August 6. Dubbed the Suez Canal Axis, the new 72-kilometre (45 mile) project is aimed at speeding up traffic along the existing waterway by reducing the waiting period of vessels, as well as boosting revenues for Egypt. AFP PHOTO / STR
Published July 26, 2015 at 5:58 PM
Updated July 27, 2015 at 11:09 AM

Egypt has held its first trial run for the new Suez Canal. Egyptians are ecstatic about the project’s official inauguration next week.CCTV’s Adel EL Mahrouky filed the reports.

Egyptians excited as country holds first trial run

Egypt has held its first trial run for the new Suez Canal. Egyptians are ecstatic about the project's official inauguration next week.CCTV's Adel EL Mahrouky filed the reports.

Highlight:

  • Three Cargo ships have successfully sailed through the new Canal. They varied in dimensions and weight. The heaviest carried around 159 thousand tons and reached nearly 46 feet depth under sea level.
  • It’s the first official test for the project, coming just 12 days ahead of the official inauguration, scheduled on August 6.
  • The government estimates the new waterway will increase the Canal’s revenue to over 13 billion dollars by 2023.