Terusan Suez, Mega Proyek Membelah Benua Afrika Dan Asia

Summary

The Suez Canal, a crucial artificial waterway in Egypt, connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, enabling faster shipping routes. Built between 1859 and 1869, it faced congestion as ships grew larger, prompting the 2014 expansion project to increase capacity and efficiency. The project created a new 72 km route, allowing two-way passage and reducing transit time from 18 to 11 hours. However, in 2021, the Ever Given ship became lodged in the canal, causing a six-day blockage that disrupted global trade. The canal reopened in March 2021 after international efforts to free the vessel.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Suez Canal is an artificial waterway in Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez, part of the Red Sea.
• 😀 The canal, 193 kilometers long, is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.
• 😀 The Suez Canal underwent expansion due to the increasing size of ships, including mega-sized vessels reaching up to 400 meters in length.
• 😀 The Suez Canal expansion project, known as the New Suez Canal, was launched in 2014 to address congestion and improve traffic flow.
• 😀 The expansion project allowed for two-way navigation, enhancing capacity and efficiency of the canal.
• 😀 The project also aimed to boost Egypt's economic role in international trade, increasing revenues from $5 billion to $12.3 billion.
• 😀 The New Suez Canal was completed in just one year, significantly faster than initially estimated.
• 😀 Advanced heavy machinery, including giant dredging machines, were used to excavate and expand the canal's passage.
• 😀 The expansion allowed for the passage of larger ships, such as the 'Suezmax' vessels, which are the largest ships able to pass through the canal.
• 😀 In March 2021, the Ever Given, a giant container ship, became stranded in the canal, causing a six-day blockage that impacted global trade, resulting in an estimated $9 billion in losses.

Q & A

What is the Suez Canal, and what is its primary function?

The Suez Canal is an artificial waterway in Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez, a northern branch of the Red Sea. Its primary function is to provide a direct shipping route between Europe and Asia, significantly reducing travel time for vessels.

Who was responsible for the construction of the Suez Canal, and when was it completed?

The Suez Canal was constructed under the direction of French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps. Construction began in 1859, and the canal was completed in November 1869.

How many ships pass through the Suez Canal each year, and why is it important?

Around 18,000 ships pass through the Suez Canal annually. It is important because it is one of the busiest shipping routes globally, allowing ships to travel more quickly between Europe and Asia without detouring around Africa.

What issues arose due to larger ships using the Suez Canal?

As ships grew in size, some reaching up to 400 meters in length, the Suez Canal became too narrow to accommodate these larger vessels efficiently, leading to congestion and delays. This made it difficult for multiple ships to pass through simultaneously.

What was the goal of the Suez Canal expansion project launched in 2014?

The goal of the 2014 Suez Canal expansion project, known as the New Suez Canal project, was to increase the canal's capacity, reduce transit times, and allow ships to travel in both directions simultaneously, improving global trade flow and increasing revenue for Egypt.

How long did the Suez Canal expansion project take to complete, and what were its main components?

The Suez Canal expansion project was completed in just one year, from 2014 to 2015. The project included the construction of a new 35 km waterway and the deepening and widening of the existing canal by 37 km.

What was the economic impact of the expanded Suez Canal?

The expanded Suez Canal increased its capacity from 49 to 97 ships per day, reducing transit time from 18 hours to 11 hours. This led to higher revenues for Egypt, increasing from $5 billion to $12.3 billion annually.

What is a 'Suezmax' ship, and why is it significant for the Suez Canal?

A 'Suezmax' ship is the largest size of vessel that can safely pass through the Suez Canal at full capacity. These ships can carry up to 160,000 tons of cargo, with a maximum width of 50 meters and height of 68 meters.

What caused the blockage of the Suez Canal in March 2021?

In March 2021, the Suez Canal was blocked when the Ever Given, a large container ship, became stuck due to strong winds and the difficulty of navigating the narrow canal. The ship's large size and the limited maneuverability caused it to run aground.

What were the consequences of the Suez Canal blockage caused by the Ever Given?

The blockage caused by the Ever Given disrupted global trade for six days, resulting in an estimated loss of $9 billion per day. Over 450 ships were delayed, waiting to pass through the canal, and the incident highlighted the vulnerability of global shipping routes.