The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is considering an expansion of the southern section of the Suez Canal, the part where ultra-large container ship Ever Given became stranded from March 23rd to March 29th, blocking it completely,
SCA chairman Ossama Rabie told Reuters on Tuesday that the authority was also looking at the possibility of buying cranes that could offload cargo at heights of up to 52 metres. “Our procedures are sound, we are just aiming to improve the service,” he said.
The SCA has said that it will continue to take ships of the Ever Given’s size and that it was reinforcing its ability to deal with future problems. “We will try to get two more tug boats, with pulling power of more than 200 tonnes – 250, 280, depending,” Rabie said. The authority was also studying and planning a possible expansion of the southern part of the canal, the area where the Ever Given got stuck.
“If there is a 250-metre part that needs expansion, maybe we will make it 400 metres,” Rabie said.