Ship Photos of the Day – First Ships Cross New Suez Canal

July 27, 2015 by gCaptain

The first cargo ships crossed the new Suez Canal on Saturday in a test-run before it is officially inaugurated August 6th.

The opening comes just 11 months after construction began on the $8 billion canal alongside the existing 145-year-old Suez Canal.

The new canal is said to shave 11 hours off navigation time from about 22 hours.

Saturday’s exercise was conducted under extremely tight security and was hailed as a complete success.

A cargo ship is seen crossing through the New Suez Canal, Ismailia, Egypt, July 25, 2015. The first cargo ships passed through Egypt's New Suez Canal on Saturday in a test-run before it opens next month, state media reported, 11 months after the army began constructing the $8 billion canal alongside the existing 145-year-old SuezCanal. Mohab Mameesh, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority overseer of the project, told state television that this test-run had been a success and that more would follow. REUTERS/Stringer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY — Photo: REUTERS/Stringer

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