Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail officially inaugurated the port of East Port Said’s side channel yesterday.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Chairman of Suez Canal Authority, Mohab Mamish, along with a number of ministers, governors and foreign diplomats.
“The objective of the canal is to reduce the waiting period, which is currently at an average of up to 10 hours, which will help to increase the number of ships coming in and out to the port ,” said Mamish.
The new waterway extends from the northern entrance of the Suez Canal at the Mediterranean Sea for 9.5 km and will provide direct access to the harbor without hindering traffic along the Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal Authority began digging of the side channel in November and finished the work this month.
After completion of this $37 million dredging scheme, the new waterway reached a depth of 18.5 meters.
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