There is so much bad news in the Middle East these days, that it is well worth noting when something good happens. Egypt has completed the final test runs for the new Suez Canal. Three ships traversed the new canal without incident and the waterway will be fully open in a matter of days.
The Suez Canal is the principal waterway for trade between Asia and Europe. It was built in the late 19th century by a French company and was controlled by the British Empire for many years. Since 1956, it has been run by the Egyptians. Today is actually the 59th anniversary of Egypt's nationalization of the canal, an event which touched off crisis and war in the region. The canal, however, faced a number of problems. Traffic was so heavy that ships had to wait at either end of the canal for up to a day before they could start the journey through the passage. Some ships were too large to fit in the canal and had to go around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. These ships are actually called "capesize" vessels. Certain larger ship were able to make the passage, but traffic in the other direction had to stop because there was not room for the two to pass by each other.
Just a few years ago, however, the Egyptian government gave the go ahead to build a second canal alongside the first one. This new canal will take traffic in one direction only while the original will go in the opposite direction. The new canal is also a bit larger and deeper so that bigger ships will be able to use it. The expectation is that traffic will increase greatly, wait times will fall to an hour or two at most and revenues from the canal will increase for the Egyptian government. That is a major benefit for the Egyptians, but they have much more of which to be proud. First of all, Egypt finance the construction on its own. The government sold bonds in small denominations to the public and they sold out in just over a week. No foreign governments or agencies got into the mix. Second, the Egyptians built this massive canal in one year. The original estimate of construction was five years, but president al Sisi of Egypt put forth the goal of one year, and the schedule was met. Construction was overseen by the Egyptian army.
Beyond the completion of the second canal, there will also be six tunnels under the waterways that will be completed. Two are for trains and the other four are for cars and trucks. For the first time in over a century, the canal will not cut off the Sinai from the rest of Egypt. These tunnels will service a large industrial and commercial district that is also to be constructed by the canal. The hope is that the businesses in this district will supply over a million jobs for the Egyptian economy.
Without a doubt, the Islamic terrorists in Egypt will do their best to disrupt any success created by the new canal. Nevertheless, today is a day to celebrate with the Egyptians.
The Suez Canal is the principal waterway for trade between Asia and Europe. It was built in the late 19th century by a French company and was controlled by the British Empire for many years. Since 1956, it has been run by the Egyptians. Today is actually the 59th anniversary of Egypt's nationalization of the canal, an event which touched off crisis and war in the region. The canal, however, faced a number of problems. Traffic was so heavy that ships had to wait at either end of the canal for up to a day before they could start the journey through the passage. Some ships were too large to fit in the canal and had to go around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. These ships are actually called "capesize" vessels. Certain larger ship were able to make the passage, but traffic in the other direction had to stop because there was not room for the two to pass by each other.
Just a few years ago, however, the Egyptian government gave the go ahead to build a second canal alongside the first one. This new canal will take traffic in one direction only while the original will go in the opposite direction. The new canal is also a bit larger and deeper so that bigger ships will be able to use it. The expectation is that traffic will increase greatly, wait times will fall to an hour or two at most and revenues from the canal will increase for the Egyptian government. That is a major benefit for the Egyptians, but they have much more of which to be proud. First of all, Egypt finance the construction on its own. The government sold bonds in small denominations to the public and they sold out in just over a week. No foreign governments or agencies got into the mix. Second, the Egyptians built this massive canal in one year. The original estimate of construction was five years, but president al Sisi of Egypt put forth the goal of one year, and the schedule was met. Construction was overseen by the Egyptian army.
Beyond the completion of the second canal, there will also be six tunnels under the waterways that will be completed. Two are for trains and the other four are for cars and trucks. For the first time in over a century, the canal will not cut off the Sinai from the rest of Egypt. These tunnels will service a large industrial and commercial district that is also to be constructed by the canal. The hope is that the businesses in this district will supply over a million jobs for the Egyptian economy.
Without a doubt, the Islamic terrorists in Egypt will do their best to disrupt any success created by the new canal. Nevertheless, today is a day to celebrate with the Egyptians.
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