Suez Canal

In 767, Abbasid caliph al-Mansur ordered the closure of the canal to prevent supplies from reaching Arabian detractors. The remaining section of the canal near the Nile continued to serve as part of Cairo's water infrastructure until the 19th century.

In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias successfully navigated southern Africa, opening a direct maritime trading route to India and the Spice Islands. This event forever changed the balance of Mediterranean trade, impacting Venice as a former middleman.

In 1517, the Ottoman conquest of Egypt led by Sultan Selim I put an end to Venetian plans to build a canal connecting the Red Sea and the Nile. The Ottoman conquest halted the Venetian dream of regaining control over the luxury trade routes.

Darius and Trajan renovated Pharaoh Necho II's canal, but due to navigational challenges, it was eventually abandoned.

In 1798, during the French campaign in Egypt, engineers led by J-B. Le Père were ordered to dig the isthmus as part of a project. Le Père's survey concluded that the Red Sea level was higher than the Mediterranean, causing a setback of fifty years.

In 1799, studies began for Napoleon's canal plan to connect the Mediterranean and Red Seas. However, a mistake in measurement revealed that the sea levels were too different for the canal to be feasible, leading to immediate halt in construction.

After becoming the French Emperor in 1804, Napoleon contemplated the construction of a north-south canal to connect the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. However, the plan was abandoned due to the mistaken belief that locks would be needed, making the construction costly and time-consuming.

In 1820, Mohammad Ali Pasha ordered part of the Canal to be fixed for irrigation purposes between El-Abbasa and El-Qassasin.

In 1830, General Francis Chesney submitted a report to the British government stating that the Suez Canal was feasible as there was no difference in elevation. However, his report did not receive further attention.

In 1833, Saint Simonian Prosper Enfantin proposed a project for a canal across the Suez isthmus, which was later disregarded.

In 1836, Alois Negrelli, the Italian-Austrian railroad pioneer, became interested in the idea of the Suez Canal. This marked a significant development in the exploration and planning for the canal.

In 1846, a survey conducted by Paul-Adrien Bourdaloue provided evidence that there was no practical difference in elevation between the two seas, supporting the feasibility of the Suez Canal construction.

The first concession for the Suez Canal was granted to Ferdinand de Lesseps on November 30th, 1854. It allowed him to establish a company responsible for digging the canal, with provisions for company supervision, appointment of the president by the Egyptian government, and profit sharing with Egypt.

The second concession for the Suez Canal was issued on January 5th, 1856, with 23 articles clarifying the provisions of the first concession. It emphasized the neutrality of the canal, ensuring that it remains open to all merchant vessels as neutral passages.

On 5th November 1857, the Suez Canal's share price was set at Frf 500, and more than half of the available shares were purchased.

The Universal Company of the Maritime Canal of Suez was founded on December 5th, 1858, with a capital of 200 million Francs. Egypt took a loan to purchase shares reserved for other countries after they refused to participate in the public offering.

On 15th December 1858, the Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez was founded.

The construction of the Suez Canal officially commenced on April 25, 1859. It was a massive project that involved moving 2,613 million cubic feet of earth, with an estimated cost of 200 million francs.

In 1859, the Egyptian government issued an official order to stop work on a project, but Ferdinand de Lesseps chose to disregard it.

The Suez Canal, connecting the Red and Mediterranean seas, officially opened on November 17, 1869, after a ten-year construction period.

In 1862, Napoleon III declared his official support for the canal project after a meeting with Ferdinand de Lesseps.

In 1863, the use of forced labor in the construction of the Suez Canal was prohibited by Pasha, leading to the introduction of modern machinery for the project.

The conflict between Egypt and Turkey is resolved with the help of Napoleon III's arbitration. As a result, the Company abandons the fresh water canal project and 60,000 hectares of irrigable land. It is agreed that the fellahs (peasants) should no longer be employed in the construction, and machines are partially used instead.

The agreement signed between the Egyptian government and the Canal authority in 1866 established the International Navigation Authority of Suez Canal as an Egyptian joint stock company subject to the laws of the country.

In 1869, the Turkish sultan, Abdul-Aziz-Khan, officially approved the concession for the construction of the Suez Canal, recognizing Egypt as a province of Turkey.

The meeting of the water of the two seas on August 18th, 1869 marked the birth of the Suez Canal, described as 'the artery of prosperity for Egypt and the world'. The legendary inauguration ceremony took place on November 17th, 1869, with notable guests and a procession of ships.

French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps finishes the construction of the Suez Canal in Egypt, enabling direct transportation and trade route between Europe and Asia.

On November 16, 1869, the Suez Canal was officially opened, connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, providing a crucial shortcut for maritime trade.

The Suez Canal was officially opened on November 17, 1869, after ten years of construction. The completion of the canal was a major achievement in connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, providing a crucial trade route.

In 1872, the Suez Canal Company faced a severe financial crisis and narrowly avoided bankruptcy, highlighting the challenges of managing and operating the strategic waterway.

The International Commission of Constantinople established a specific kind of net tonnage for the Suez Canal, settling the question of tariffs in its protocol. This led to the creation of the Suez Canal Net Tonnage and the Suez Canal Special Tonnage Certificate, which are still utilized today.

On February 15, 1875, British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli purchased 44% of the Suez Canal shares from Khedive Ismail, giving Britain financial control over the Company along with France. This purchase significantly impacted Egypt's share of profits from the Canal.

On November 25, 1875, a significant event occurred following the completion of the Suez Canal, impacting its operations or surroundings.

The British government purchases 176,602 shares of the Compagnie universelle du canal de Suez from Ismail, making it the primary shareholder of the canal.

Between May and September of 1882, following the Urabi Revolt, the British successfully occupied Egypt, seized the Suez Canal facilities, and halted traffic through it for a period. This occupation had significant implications for the control and operation of the Canal.

Lord Grandfield issued a statement on January 3, 1883, declaring the British government's willingness to withdraw its army from Egypt when conditions allowed. He suggested organizing the Suez Canal's position through an agreement among major powers.

A convention is held to resolve the dispute over tariffs for using the Suez Canal, ensuring smoother operations and agreements for all parties involved.

On March 30, 1885, an international committee met in Paris to draft a document ensuring freedom of navigation in the Suez Canal for all countries, but they failed to reach an agreement.

An official works programme is established for the widening of the Suez Canal, aiming to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the vital waterway.

The Constantinople Convention on October 29, 1888, involved France, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, and Turkey agreeing to establish a system ensuring freedom of navigation through the Suez Canal.

On December 22, 1888, an authorization was granted for the night-time navigation of the Suez Canal, allowing ships to pass through the canal during nighttime hours.

In 1900, the Suez Canal Company conducted a dredging trial to determine the best ship for widening and deepening the canal. The trial involved the ship The Hercules, which was eventually not chosen for the dredging.

Britain is allowed to maintain a garrison of 10,000 men in the Suez Canal Zone and is given effective control of Sudan as per the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty.

British premier Winston Churchill warns that the Suez Canal will be in danger if Britain withdraws from Egypt.

British warships arrived at Port Said in response to Egypt's announcement regarding the Suez Canal Zone.

In May 1952, the draft of ships in the Suez Canal increased to 38 feet, and the water sector expanded to 1800 meters.

In 1954, a seven-year treaty was brokered to remove Britain's military presence from the Suez Canal Zone.

Britain agrees to hand over control of the Suez Canal to Egypt as part of a new treaty, with a two-year period set for complete withdrawal.

On March 15, 1956, General Nasser issued a decree banning Israeli ships from passing through the Suez Canal, escalating tensions in the region.

On April 19, 1956, the first British ship paid the Egyptian toll for using the Suez Canal, marking a significant event during the Suez Crisis.

President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal in a historic speech in Alexandria on July 6, 1956. The decree transferred all assets, rights, and obligations of the Suez Maritime Canal Company to the Egyptian nation.

The USA emphasized in a statement issued on July 19, 1956, that it found the construction of the High Dam impractical for Egypt due to doubts about Egypt's capabilities and economic strength.

US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles responded to the Ambassador of Egypt on July 20, 1956, stating that the US government was no longer willing to finance the High Dam project due to concerns about Egypt's weak economy.

On July 26, 1956, President Nasser declared a plan to nationalize the Suez Canal, a crucial waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

Britain took the action of freezing Egyptian assets on July 28, 1956, in response to President Nasser's nationalization plan of the Suez Canal.

On August 1, 1956, Britain, France, and the US held discussions regarding the escalating crisis surrounding the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt.

By August 21, 1956, Egypt expressed readiness to negotiate the ownership of the Suez Canal, conditional on Britain's withdrawal from the Middle East region.

The USSR made an announcement on August 23, 1956, stating its intention to send troops in support of Egypt in the event of an attack during the Suez Crisis.

On August 26, 1956, General Nasser consented to participate in a conference involving five nations to discuss the future of the Suez Canal.

Amid the Suez Crisis, on August 28, 1956, Egypt expelled two British envoys, accusing them of engaging in espionage activities.

On September 5, 1956, Israel publicly criticized Egypt for its role in the Suez Crisis, adding to the escalating tensions in the region.

General Nasser's refusal to allow international control of the Suez Canal leads to the collapse of conference talks.

US, Britain, and France announce their plan to impose a Canal Users Association on the management of the Suez Canal.

Egypt gains full control of the Suez Canal.

Soviet ship-pilots arrive to assist Egypt in running the Suez Canal.

On September 18, 1956, the SIS arranged a visit for 50 foreign correspondents to Ismailia to visit the Canal Zone and witness the accuracy of navigation managed by Egyptian pilots.

On September 19, 1956, the main headlines of Al-Ahram newspaper highlighted the positive impressions of foreign correspondents who were impressed by the successful navigation in the canal, with convoys of ships crossing peacefully.

A 15-nation Suez Canal Users Association is officially established.

Israeli foreign minister Golda Meir suggests that the UN's failure to resolve the Suez Crisis necessitates military action.

Dr. Mahmoud Fawzi defended Egypt's nationalization of the Suez Canal Company at the UN General Assembly, citing the country's right to use its resources for the welfare of its people and sovereignty over its land.

During the UN session, the USSR vetoes the Anglo-French proposal for the control of the Suez Canal.

The Suez Crisis began on October 29, 1956, when Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula, leading to military engagements between Egypt, the UK, France, and Israel. The crisis escalated due to the nationalisation of the Suez Canal by Egypt.

Britain and France veto the USSR's demand for a cease-fire between Israel and Egypt.

On November 6, 1956, British and French troops successfully invaded the Canal Zone during the Suez Crisis, coinciding with the U.S. presidential election where Eisenhower was re-elected.

On December 23, 1956, the Suez War ended with the victory of Egypt and the canal against the Tripartite Aggression, contributing to the liberation and end of colonies worldwide.

On March 29, 1957, the Suez Canal resumed navigation after successfully clearing the waterway of sunken ships, marking a significant victory.

On July 17, 1957, Egypt sent a letter to the International Court of Justice, acknowledging its compulsory jurisdiction for disputes related to transit through the Suez Canal, in line with the Constantinople Convention.

The first phase of the 'Nasser Project' aimed at expanding the Suez Canal from 1250m2 to 1800m2 and increasing the ship draft from 35 feet to 37 feet was completed on April 30, 1961.

The second phase of the 'Nasser Project' for the expansion and improvement of the Suez Canal was successfully finished on September 1, 1961.

On March 13, 1962, the 'Manhattan', the largest tanker globally at that time, transited the Suez Canal, showcasing the canal's capability to accommodate giant vessels.

The Suez Canal Authority celebrated the transit of the 100,000th vessel through the Canal since its nationalization in 1956. The vessel was the Norwegian oil tanker 'Borg Hess' with specific dimensions and capacity.

Egypt fulfilled its duties by paying compensations to stakeholders for the nationalization of establishment quotas and shares, totaling L.E 28300000 in foreign currency.

The new dredger 'Khufu' from Scotland joined the Suez Canal Authority fleet, boasting higher power and capabilities compared to other dredgers. It could dredge through rocky soil up to 21m depth and had a cost of L.E. 1.5 million.

On May 8, 1966, the English tanker 'British Admiral' with a massive load of 111274 Tons successfully transited the Suez Canal, demonstrating the canal's importance for global maritime trade.

The Norwegian oil tanker 'Birghaven' transited the Suez Canal, being the largest ship to transit at the time. It underwent successful trials at the SCA Research Center in Ismailia before being permitted to transit.

In May 1967, Egyptian President Nasser ordered the UNEF peacekeeping forces to leave the Sinai Peninsula, escalating tensions in the region.

Israel protested against Nasser's order to close the Straits of Tiran to Israeli trade on May 21, 1967, leading to further conflict.

Navigation through the Suez Canal was halted due to the Israeli aggression that began on June 5th, 1967. The closure lasted until late President Anwar El-Sadat announced its re-opening.

The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1968 significantly reduced the flow of freshwater from the Nile into the eastern Mediterranean. This led to a decrease in natural nutrient-rich silt entering the Mediterranean at the Nile Delta.

The Suez Canal was opened for navigation with a length of 164km, 52m wide at the water level, and 75m deep. Navigation was initially permitted only during the day, but night navigation was allowed from March 1, 1887.

The war of attrition between Egypt and Israel ceased after the death of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser on September 28, 1970.

During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the Egyptian army crossed the Suez Canal in Operation Badr, leading to significant conflict in the region.

Israeli forces counter-attacked by crossing the Suez Canal into Egypt on October 22, 1973, escalating the conflict in the region.

Following the Six-Day War in 1967, Egypt closed the Suez Canal until 1975. This closure had significant consequences, including the 1970s energy crisis and 1973 oil crisis due to disruptions in oil deliveries from the Middle East to Europe.

President Anwar El-Sadat announced the re-opening of the Suez Canal in a historical speech before the People’s Assembly on March 29th, 1975. He emphasized the importance of the Canal as a path towards prosperity and peace.

The Suez Canal was re-opened on June 5th, 1975, marking a significant event in the history of the canal.

The giant Liberian oil tanker 'Asoscandia' transited the Suez Canal on October 31st, 1976. It was the largest ship to transit at the time, with a maximum capacity of 254 thousand tons.

The Al-Timsah bypass was dug from km76.6 to km 81.7 in the Suez Canal, with a length of 5.1 km. It was inaugurated in 1980, providing a dual waterway for navigation.

Egypt celebrated the connection of the Port-Saïd bypass with the Mediterranean, extending from km17 to km195. This connection allowed vessels to move in and out of the canal without hindering Port-Saïd harbor.

In 1996, the Qualifying Industrial Zones were set up in the Suez Canal Economic Zone as part of an American initiative to promote economic cooperation between Israel and its neighboring countries. These zones aimed to attract investment by offering zero customs rates.

By 2001, the Egyptian administration of the Suez Canal had developed it to accommodate ships with a load capacity of 210,000 tons and a ship draft of 191.80 kilometers. The canal was also redesigned with curved paths and a new bypass to improve navigation.

The Suez Canal Authority implemented new rules in 2008 to regulate vessel transit, including allowing larger vessels with 19-meter draught, increasing breadth limits, and imposing fines for unauthorized pilot usage.

In 2010, the permitted ship draft for transit through the Suez Canal was raised to 6 feet, allowing container ships with a load of up to 17,000 containers to pass through.

In February 2012, Israel revealed plans to build a railway connecting the Mediterranean and Eilat through the Negev desert as a rival to the Suez Canal. However, by 2019, the project was halted indefinitely.

In 2014, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt, ordered the expansion of the Ballah Bypass to create the New Suez Canal, allowing ships to transit in both directions simultaneously. The project cost over $9 billion and was completed within a year.

The New Suez Canal, functional since 6 August 2015, features a new parallel canal in the middle part, extending over 35 kilometers. This expansion has increased the capacity and efficiency of the Suez Canal.

The Suez Canal Authority officially opened a new side channel in 2016 at the northern side of the east extension of the Suez Canal. This channel serves the East Terminal for berthing and unberthing vessels, enhancing the canal's operational efficiency.

On 18 October 2017, the OOCL Japan ran aground in the Suez Canal, causing a temporary obstruction that blocked the canal for a few hours.

On 23 March 2021, the ultra-large container ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal in both directions after running aground. The incident caused a major disruption to global trade and shipping routes.

On 2 April 2021, Usama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, estimated that the damage caused by the blockage of the canal could reach about $1 billion. He also mentioned that hundreds of cargo ships had passed through the canal smoothly after its reopening.

On 15 April 2021, Egyptian authorities announced plans to widen the southern section of the Suez Canal from Suez to the Great Bitter Lake. The widening includes increasing the width by 40 meters and the maximum depth by 2 meters to enhance the canal's efficiency.

On 9 September 2021, the MV Coral Crystal briefly blocked the Suez Canal but was freed within 15 minutes, causing minimal disruption to other convoys.

The Suez Canal, a significant man-made waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, was officially opened on this date.

On 25 May 2023, a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship named MV Xin Hai Tong 23 was grounded near the southern end of the Suez Canal. It was successfully refloated by tugboats within a day.

The Suez Canal set a new record with annual revenue of $9.4 billion in USD for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2023.