Suez Canal 3 of 5

About 8% of the world's sea trade passes through the Suez and today it's a good income earner for the state owned Suez Canal Authority.

Ships sailing from Asia to the Eas Coast via the Suez Canal have to pay an average of US$235,000 per voyage. It sounds expensive but when you consider for example, that there are over 2000 passengers on the Sea Princess, it works out to be about US$120 per person. Container vessels and other ships find their canal fees are far less than the fuel costs that would be incurred if they sailed around South America to get to Places like Britain, France and other poets in the the Mediterranean.

The complete passage through the Suez takes between 11 and 16 hours at a speed of about 8 knots (15 km per hour). This low speed has been set as a means of preventing bank erosion and the flooding of low lying areas along the canal, by the wake of ships as they sail through the canal. 

Ships' passages are closely monitored and the 'rule of entry' is that the first ship to arrive at the entrance of the canal will be the leader of the convoy. Distances between ships is also kept at a measured pace and there is no over taking or  breaking of the speed limit.

We were the second ship to enter the canal at Port Suez, earlier this morning. Ahead of us was a warship disguised as a merchant ship. We only know this because the captain reported this to us in his interview on board a few days after passing through the Suez Canal. It is comforting to know that the Peace forces are maintaining their presence in this 'political hot-zone' area. 

We were to spend the rest of the day really watching the 'passing parade' as we gently glided through the waters of the Suez towards Port Said in Egypt. We began by having our breakfast out on our balcony so that we could get a good observation of all that was to transpire over the day. Even though it was about 7.30 and our balcony was shaded the air was beginning to warm up and when we looked across at the desert around us already the sandy shoreline was absorbing and reflecting the heat from the sun's rays.

After breakfast we spent some time on the small deck at the front of the ship where we had a wide view of both banks of the canal. We saw so many interesting activities on the waters of the canal and the along the banks so we spent the rest of the day alternating from our balcony view and the vistas from the outside deck where a running commentary broadcast was given at different stages throughout our canal journey. 

It seemed to us that this canal has become a highway through the desert, a snaking blue ribbon of water along which whole communities have settled and established themselves. It was fascinating to look out across the vast desert landscape with its sandhills, palm trees and then to be presented with views which followed a pattern of: desert 'emptiness' for several kilometres, then small settlements or outposts and several larger towns, all separated by open desert sands hill.

As we neared Port Said, larger towns emerged along canal. The houses were substantial, the infrastructure advanced with roads, vehicles, commercial buildings, mosques and satellite towers. there were substantial date palm groves and small agricultural plots -oases in the desert. Many of the residential buildings were decorated with strings of colourful, freshly-hung  laundry items and a variety of pot plants. The extension and maintenance of the Suez provides ongoing work for engineers, tradesmen and service providers, hence the establishment of these thriving towns and 'cities' in desert areas which was once the domain of camel teams Bedouin tents and traders.