Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), Admiral Osama Rabie, affirmed that all SCA projects were progressing despite regional challenges, particularly in the Red Sea.
He emphasized that that commitment aligned with presidential directives and highlighted the successful completion of the southern expansion of the Suez Canal.
This project was funded entirely from the SCA's investment budget, executed by Egyptian hands using the local currency, without incurring any foreign currency costs for the State.
The expansion, covering 40 kilometers from the canal’s entrance in Suez to the Small Bitter Lakes (from kilometer 122 to kilometer 162), includes a newly constructed 10-kilometer channel within the lakes.
This addition has been incorporated into the New Suez Canal, extending its length to 82 kilometers. The development increases the canal’s capacity for vessel traffic, reduces waiting times, and shortens transit durations.
Admiral Rabie pointed to positive indicators signaling a return to normal navigation, particularly after the Houthis declared a halt to their Red Sea attacks on January 19 and the subsequent ceasefire in Gaza.
Large vessels previously targeted by Houthi aggression have resumed transit, with ship movement expected to increase gradually.
He dismissed recurring rumors about alternative maritime routes, asserting that no route matches the Suez Canal in strategic importance, service efficiency, or security measures.
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