Suez Canal April 5th

Transiting the Suez Canal was one of the highlights of the cruise.  It was also a learning experience.  We had never really studied the design of the Canal and thought it was similar to the Panama Canal.  It isn’t.  Actually the Suez is a very sophisticated and well maintained ditch.  There are no locks or mechanical controls within the Canal.  There is a very extensive history to the Canal and the part it has played in the history of the world going back to the 6th century BC.  I’ll leave that for you to Goggle and I’ll just tell you about our transit.

The Canal is one way with two North bound and one South bound convoys a day.  North bound ships gather in the Gulf of Suez and south bound in El Tina Bay by Port Said.  Transit is only during the day.  You can see some ships around us waiting at the south end.

Entering the Suez Canal (SC from now on).  This sign is on the west side.

See the change in clothing.  It is getting colder.

In the 1967 war several ships were sunk in the SC to close it.  It took a long time to clear the wreckage once it was decided to open the SC again (1975).  These devices are parts of a floating blockade that can be used to block the SC.  Supplies of these with launching ramps are spread all along the SC.  If the Egyptians decide to close the SC they will use these.   I’ll show different pictures now and then.  Here is one with them joined and set and another showing the storage location with launching ramps.

 

The southern end of the SC from the stern of the ship.  Left is the Sinai Peninsula (Called Egypt Asia, don’t know why, it is a long way from Asia); right is Egypt (North Africa; now that I understand).  You can see what I mean by the SC being a long ditch.

All along, on both sides, are Egyptian Army security posts.  All are manned.

We were also over-flown by Army helicopters several times.  Remember we are at the lead of a multi-ship convoy heading north.

It isn’t all desert.  On the Egypt North Africa side there are many towns with irrigation taken from the SC.

Mud houses along the SC.

Here you can see the reinforced banks of the canal, the road that runs the whole length to Port Said, and the large city in the background.

 

Other housing along the SC.  All this build up is on the West side.  The Sinai is desert all most all the way.  Note all the satellite dishes.

There are 14 ferry crossing locations along the SC.  We are early in the day so business is slow.

Here you can clearly see the bank reinforcement.  They are constantly dredging and reinforcing the Canal.

A SC tow truck and fire engine.   These tugs are moving up and down the Canal.

You can see the development.  I think this is El-Shallufa.

Moving along the SC.

One of the irrigation channels and a security tower.

Cultivated fields on the west side.

In this picture you can see the ships following us in convoy through the SC.

the Sinai side of the SC.

An Egyptian military base.  You can see to tracked retrievers in the lower right.  I think this is an engineer base.

Entering Little Bitter Lake.  This is not part of the canal portion of the transit.  The actual canal portions are only where it has been dug and is narrow.

Continuing into Great Bitter Lake.  Here is where north bound and south bound convoys pass for the first time.  Ships massing for continued transit.

The south bound convoy passing to our port side as we head north.  They must all be clear of the next single lane SC portion before we enter.  The little ship in front of us is a navy escort.

We pass up the right side of the lane marker island.

The last ship in the south bound convoy.  We’ll lead our convoy into the main SC and continue north.

Our convoy forming up behind us from the Great Bitter Lake to move north.  You can see the south bound convoy on the right.

A parking place for the “tow trucks.”

A SC dredge.  The island is placed where the north and south bound convoys meet.  You can see SC blockers on the bank.

SC workers going to work.

Another surprise was the number of fisherman in the SC.  It is open flowing between the Med and Red Sea.  There are a number of studies going on to assess the impact of the movement of the marine life between the two bodies of water and environments.  The SC has only been open since 1869.  I wonder how long the studies will go on?

All the fisherman row their boats.

A very colorful military post.

The ferries are getting busier.

Another military base.

There really are soldiers there.

We are approaching a large town on the west side.  I think it is El-Firdan.

This is what I think is a SC maintenance station.

Located in the town is a memorial to what we were told was the defense of the Canal in World War II.

A tourist bus going to the memorial stopped at a checkpoint.

This is the Memorial.  I think they had the wrong war.  Note the dates.

On the same grounds, off to the side was, what looks like a, a anti-aircraft Hawk Missile battery.  It could either be a part of the memorial (for the 1973 war) or an active defense system.

A Mosque on the memorial grounds.

Here you can see the memorial in the background, the large city to the left and our convoy as we progress north.

We passed a large military complex on the Sinai side.  This is a watch tower with an encampment.  You can see the soldiers laundry between the tents.

This is some type of war memorial.  Not sure for what.  The significance is that it is on the Sinai side.  Interesting to note that this part of the Sinai is cultivated and built up.

You can see the area of irrigation in this picture.  to the right is desert.

This is a dual rail line swing bridge.  It is one of the three crossing points; this rail line, a tunnel (I tired for picture but couldn’t get a good focus), and a road bridge coming up.

We passed the second south bound convoy.  I think they progress to Great Bitter Lake and spend the night.  They are anchored on what could be considered a rail siding waiting for us to pass.  The sand island is man-made.

Some close-ups as we passed for perspective.

Approaching the Egypt-Japanese Friendship Bridge at the northern end of the SC.  So called since Japan gave most of the money to construct the bridge.  On the other side is Port Said.

At least one picture to show we were there.

A Egyptian military checkpoint on the road.

We passed a school.  These are the students coming out to see our ship sail by.

Some housing and street scenes as we approach the northern end.

Can you count the number of mosques in this picture?  There were a lot more to the left and right.

Another military checkpoint.  We’ll think about this the next time we want to drive across our country from coast to coast.

We exited the SC to the north and entered the Mediterranean Sea.  I didn’t get any pictures of the actual exit.  Then again you are probably tired of SC pictures.  We had a very interesting transit and learned a lot.  Hope you enjoyed the trip with us. 

Ken & Noreen