Egypt's Sisi Launches Nationalist New Suez Canal Celebration
Egypt staged a show of international support on Thursday as it inaugurated a major extension of the Suez Canal which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hopes will power an economic turnaround in the Arab world's most populous country. The former armed forces chief, who led a military takeover two years ago but ran for president as a civilian last year, told a ceremony attended by leaders of France, Russia, Arab and African states that Egypt would defeat terrorism. The $8 billion New Suez Canal project was completed in just one year instead of three on Sisi's orders…
Nile Collision Death Toll Rises to 31
The death toll from a boat collision on Egypt's Nile river Wednesday has risen to 31, a ministry of health spokesperson told Reuters on Friday. The accident occurred on the Nile near Giza, across the river from Cairo, when a barge collided with and overturned a small recreational boat carrying tens of passengers on Wednesday evening. The search for additional victims continues, and it remains uncertain how many passengers were aboard the two boats, the spokesperson said. Reporting by Eric Knecht
Long History of Canals in Egypt Linking Europe and Asia
Egypt said on Tuesday it plans to build a new Suez Canal alongside the existing 145-year-old historic waterway in a multi-billion dollar project aimed at expanding trade along the fastest shipping route between Europe and Asia. The first canal connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas via the Nile River was dug in 1874 B.C. during the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh Senausret III. It was abandoned and reopened several times over the subsequent 2,500 years. Pharonic inscriptions showed that Egyptians used the canals to move warships, send pilgrimages to the Holy Land and transport grain and stones used in ancient monuments. Napoleon sought to build a modern canal in order to undermine Britain's control of trading routes to Asia…
WESMAR $1.2M Egyptian Contract
WESMAR (Western Marine Electronics) announced that the $1.2m contract they have to equip Egyptian built vessels with their all stainless steel counter rotating dual prop bow thrusters for highly controlled maneuvering in restricted situations, is progressing on schedule despite the political unrest in Egypt. The 100-meter Watania 202 has entered service in the Nile River, joining Wantania 201, which launched late last year. Both vessels are part of the Nile Cargo Project, which is on target to restore commercial barge travel along the Nile River and relieve Egypt’s highway congestion and reduce high transportation costs.The entire project will eventually see 62 of these state-of-the-art, fuel efficient, and environmetnally friendly vessels on the Nile, says WESMAR President Bruce H.
Eighteen Missing After Ferry Sinks
Eighteen people are missing after a ferry boat sank in the Nile River in northern Sudan. The boat reportedly sank on Nov. 19 while crossing the Nile in the town of Wadi Halfa, 700 km (440 miles) north of Khartoum. Six of the 24 people on board escaped harm. The rest were missing. The cause of the accident was not known. Most accidents on the Nile are caused by overloading of boats, most of which are old and in poor condition.
