EGYPT Made History again - opened new Suez Canal after just 1 yr of construction - all videos of inauguration and more inside

'A message to all': Egypt prepares for new Suez Canal opening ceremony

Fireworks in the morning. Naval and air show. Live streaming on mega-screens in major cities around the world. Folklore performances and a revival of Verdi’s Opera Aida (written for but not performed at the inauguration of the original Suez Canal in 1869). This is a sample of what to expect on 6 August, along with the more rudimentary distribution of 50 fishing boats to locals and the opening of 460 fisheries.

There will be much pomp and circumstance on a 10km stretch of the new waterway when hundreds of dignitaries flock to the banks of the new Suez Canal to mark the inauguration of a record-setting construction feat. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will lead the ceremony that crowns one year of non-stop construction, generous national donations, and trusting investments by average Egyptians.




Two messages

“There were two core messages we wanted to convey,” explained Abdel-Aziz. “On the local level, we wanted to build a sense of pride and trust in the project; that the people had invested their money in the right way.”

The message on the regional front was that “Egypt is a key player in the economy of the region, using sound facts and figures”. Meanwhile, “to the world, we wanted to show the impact of the new canal on the global economy, in terms of minimising shipping time and cost”.

Another key factor, he noted, is the environment because once shipping is accelerated, less fuel will be used and pollution will be reduced.

On Saturday, the eve of the 59th anniversary of nationalising the original Suez Canal, the first trial run of the new canal got a thumbs up from Mamish after three cargo vessels passed through the waterway.

After paying standard fees, the large vessels continued their journeys from Jeddah to Port Said; from Singapore to the US; and from Jeddah to Italy. Another test sail is scheduled next week before the inaugural event.

Although there were suggestions to postpone the trial run or test smaller vessels, “we insisted on using large vessels to send a message to all shipping companies that the new canal has the capacity for all existing and future generations of vessels”, Mamish told a news conference after the test run.

“Everyone can now see a reality that showcases the ability of Egyptians to make progress and make miracles.”

[link to english.ahram.org.eg]

less than 50%

thank you for posting this! I did not know about it.

Wow.

Sounds like a huge event.
First time hearing of this.

I stopped watching news a long time ago....lol
I'm out of the loop.

Thanks for sharing.

Thank you - yes I know, I figured many of you won't know until CNN will show some little headline 2 min story (my guess). I know some of you will appreciate it and as I said, I will find the live stream links and post them here :).

I personally have not seen anything on CNN International or other channels (I don't watch them either but I turn on top of the hour if I want to see if they're reporting anything).

My guess there will be a short mention maybe on some, others might report more like French media since their President is attending. I don't know who's coming from the US, for sure not Obama - horseface was here Tuesday but I think he left.

Still trying to find a complete list of attendees and program but difficult, seems for security reasons not much made public too far ahead. I will watch it though and give more updates.

Egypt’s New Suez Canal Mega-Project Greets The First Three Container Ships


Under the patronage of the Egyptian army and president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the new waterway, an $US 8 billion mega-project that has been under construction since August 2014, is scheduled to be formally opened on August 6.



In order to avoid imposing unnecessary burdens on the impaired Egyptian economy, al-Sisi had announced in March the release of investment certificates that were available for purchase by Egyptian citizens to fund the mega-project. The idea was met with grand enthusiasm, seeing the purchase of investment certificates worth approximately $US 7.6 billion, reported CNBC Arabia.

During the Saturday test-run, the New Suez Canal welcomed the passage of the first container ship at 10 a.m. The American ship heading to Saudi Arabia from Egypt’s Port Said weighed 133,000 tonnes, while the second ship, a Danish one heading from Singapore to the United States was loaded with 95,000 tons of cargo. The third ship to make its way through the waterway was a Bahraini ship making its way from Saudi Arabia to Italy carrying a load of 77,000 tonnes.
[link to egyptianstreets.com]

Also grateful for the news.
Thank you!
I've been to Egypt twice and loved it.

One of the biggest advantages will be the sped up traffic, from 22 to 11 hours for a ship to pass, why this is, there's the official Suez Canal site here. Also it doesn't stop here, August 7th they will continue with another side canal, a fork kind of, 7,5km for Port Said! The Industrial Zones planned are also going to be massive!! Lots of stats on this official site, have fun!

[link to www.suezcanal.gov.eg]

The Project:
Construction of a new Canal from km 60 to km 95, in addition to deepening and widening of the Great Bitter Lakes by-passes and Ballah by-pass, with a total length of 37 km, (Total length of the project is 72 km)
Idea of the Project:
Creating a new canal, parallel to the existing one, to maximize benefit from the present Canal and its by-passes, and double the longest possible parts of the waterway to facilitate traffic in the two directions and minimize the waiting time for transiting ships. This will certainly reduce the time needed for the trip from one end of the Canal to the other, and will increase the numerical capacity of the waterway, in anticipation of the expected growth in world trade. The project goes side by side with the Suez Canal Area Development Project. The two projects will add to the importance of the Suez Canal, and will make it the route of choice for ship owners the world over, putting any alternative routes out of competition. The project will also have quite a positive impact on the Egyptian national income as it will boost the hard currency earnings, provide much needed job opportunities and create new urban communities.
Project Objectives:

Boosting the hard currency earnings for the Egyptian national income
Increasing the doubled parts of the Suez Canal to 50%
Shortening the transit time from 18 hours to 11 hours for the southbound convoy
Minimize the waiting time for vessels to become three hours at most instead of 8-11 hours, the matter that will cut down on trip cost and make the Suez Canal more attractive for ship owners
Attract more ships to use the Suez Canal, and add to the Canal classification as an important international maritime route
Increase the number of ships that the Canal can handle on a daily basis in order to cope with the expected growth of world trade
Support the Suez Canal Area Development Project and enhance the Egyptian national economy and turn Egypt into an international logistics center

Congratulations Egypt!

Glad to reach a few people that would have been disappointed to miss this. Since you've been to Egypt, you will enjoy this part then of the Opening Ceremony :)

[link to english.ahram.org.eg]

Omar Khairat, opera Aida to be featured in Suez Canal celebrations
One thousand artists will participate in the celebrations marking the opening of the new Suez Canal expansion on Thursday 6 August

The cultural segment of the celebrations will open with a concert by Omar Khairat and orchestra, conducted by Nayer Nagui. The compositions will include a selection of Khairat's best-known works.

Khairat is a reputed composer and pianist, whose original compositions -- which bridge contemporary Arab music and western songs -- have earned him a large following in Egypt and the region.



In the second half of the celebrations, the Cairo Opera artists joined by international soloists will stage Triumphal March from Giuseppe Verdi's Opera Aida, an opera whose story is set in ancient Egypt. David Crescenzi will conduct the orchestra.

The scene comes from the opera's second act, when Ramades returns to the city to the celebrations of his victory in the battle.

The scene opens with the choir, who represent the Egyptian people, singing:

Glory to Isis and the land
By her firm arm protected!
To Egypt's King elected,
Raise we our festive songs!

Shokran

Navigating AIDA IV through new Suez Canal on opening day: Meet Egypt’s 1st female shipmaster

Marwa El-Selehdar reveals how she became Egypt's first female shipmaster and her journey to be part of the new Suez Canal celebrations

The 24-year-old would assist in navigating a naval vessel through the new waterway during the opening celebrations on 6 August, she was recently informed.

“I never thought that my dream would finally come true. I am going to be part of the inauguration as a second naval officer on the deck of the training ship AIDA IV," El Selhdar told Al-Ahram newspaper.

El-Selehdar believes that her participation as the youngest and first Egyptian and Arab female shipmaster would bolster the image of the "civilised Egyptian women."
[link to english.ahram.org.eg]

Now if I collect all my bets I made with people last year that said this project will NEVER finish in time - and they were done even 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Just two months ago I had an argument with someone who said it won't make it in time... But I'm fair, I don't want to take anyone's money but watching them eating their words now is making me much happier than taking their money.

Last Edited by Bes Maat on 08/05/2015 05:51 PM

In anticipation of the opening ceremony for the new Suez Canal waterway, a 5km-long Egyptian flag was pulled along the new waterway by nine swimmers. Videos from the canal were broadcasted on YouTube and show various celebrations of the upcoming inauguration.

The three horizontal bands of red, white, and black with the national golden eagle at its center were not only covering the waterway that connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, they also currently cover almost every governmental building across the nation.
[link to english.ahram.org.eg]

Pictures at the link - flags were everywhere in Cairo the last couple days and today especially!

Last Edited by Bes Maat on 08/05/2015 06:24 PM

Tomorrow there will also be free train and bus public transportation, and entrance to parks and museums are free tomorrow and Friday!

Hazz sa'eed (I hope, I have that right, LOL)

and

Mazel tov, my friend...

post some pics.

Looking forward to more of your posts on the festivities. Thanks!

Yes I got it, I guess we can use some luck but we did it all with hard work and we'll continue...but thank you very much

How nice to be reading of monumental progress acheived instead of the destruction of world historic sites.

Unfortunately I don't belong to the people invited, there was a lottery for people to attend too, but I will be like Millions others watching on tv and online. I'll be here to provide any links, streams and some will have videos and pictures online. Enjoy :)

7 Things You Should Know About Egypt’s ‘New Suez Canal’

When?

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi launched a project to deepen the Suez Canal and dig a parallel canal on August 5, 2014. In a scene aired on television, he pushed a button, launching an explosion leading to black smoke billowing in the sky.

This marked the beginning of drilling.

On the same day, Sisi signed an order to launch drilling in a major ceremony held near the waterway.

The Suez Canal Authority estimated that the project will need 36 months to be completed but Sisi demanded that it be completed in a year.

[link to egyptianstreets.com]

from above article

[link to egyptianstreets.com]

How many job opportunities have been provided by the project?

Over 43 thousand workers have taken part in the drilling and construction of the new parallel canal, the Suez Canal authority said. The number of contractors working in the canal is 80 companies, in addition to six dredging companies and a bulldozers group affiliated with the Suez Canal Authority.

The development project is meanwhile estimated to provide one million job opportunities during the coming 15 years.

How will the project affect world trade traffic?

The new parallel canal will contribute to doubling the size of the Suez Canal. Around 97 ships are expected to daily cross the canal by 2023, while the number of ships daily crossing the canal before the project was launched was nearly 49 ships.

When the project is concluded, the Suez Canal will be able to accommodate all kinds of ships, especially giant oil tankers. It would also save costs for ships, as it would cut down on traffic time.

congrats-----but keep an eye out for the terrorists---they try to ruin any party they can

Great timing in conjunction with the 5th AC.

Thank you and we're on it because we know those jerks very well by now.

[link to english.ahram.org.eg]

Egypt's security at highest level ahead of New Suez Canal opening

The official opening of the new 72-kilometre shipping lane is scheduled for 6 August in a ceremony expected to be attended by world leaders

Security personnel will coordinate with the military forces surrounding all vital facilities in Egypt, including police stations, security directorates, the Shura Council (upper body of the parliament) building, the cabinet, the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC), the central bank, power plants, and other facilities.

Special armed personnel will surround these facilities as part of security measures that the interior ministry began implementing on 1 August, according to MENA, which spoke to officials from the ministry.



The second security provision will be implemented in six governorates: Ismailia, Port Said, Suez, Sharqiya, Qalyubia, and Cairo. The plan includes these governorates as delegations attending the opening ceremony are expected to pass by them on their way to the Ismailia governorate where the celebration will be taking place.

Speaking about the security plan of the celebration itself, officials reported that there will be increased police and military presence surrounding the sites of the opening ceremony.

The forces will also work on securing the international and the national delegations that are expected to attend the inauguration.

Last Edited by Bes Maat on 08/05/2015 06:07 PM

Some pictures of the new canal and videos of the first trial ships passing

PICTURES
[link to english.ahram.org.eg]


VIDEO
[link to english.ahram.org.eg]

The first ship in the trial was a US container with a payload of 133,000 tons, coming from Saudi Arabia's Jeddah and heading to Egypt's Port Said.

The second ship, loaded with 95,000 tons of cargo, was coming from Singapore and heading to the US.

The third — a Bahraini ship with a cargo of 77,000 tons — departed from Jeddah and is heading to Italy.

Should OP be reported to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi?
Does OP have foreknowledge of a plot?