Since the Suez Canal was expanded in 2014 for regulated two-way traffic, shipping is executed in shifts. Ships approaching the canal must radio the harbor when they are at least 24 km away from the Safe Water Mark. The northbound convoy departs at 4:00 AM from Suez, while the southbound convoy departs at 3:00 AM from Port Said. This way, when the two convoys meet in the canal, they will be located in a portion that has been widened to allow two-way traffic.
Suez and Port Said are 90-miles apart. The Great Bitter Lake (where Evergiven is located) is 1/2 way between them.
Math question: If a Southbound ship is moving at 15 mph, and a Northbound ship is moving at 15 mph... and they both start out 90 miles apart, how long will it take them to meet? Oh... about 3 hours.
Except that all day long you can see ships moving in both directions. It's not "close for one way / open for other / empty out entire canal for several hours". Portions of the canal have separate channels for north and southbound, the Great Bitter Lake is also where north and southbound ships travel simultaneously. Closing the entire length of the Suez is abnormal.
Since the Suez Canal was expanded in 2014 for regulated two-way traffic, shipping is executed in shifts. Ships approaching the canal must radio the harbor when they are at least 24 km away from the Safe Water Mark. The northbound convoy departs at 4:00 AM from Suez, while the southbound convoy departs at 3:00 AM from Port Said. This way, when the two convoys meet in the canal, they will be located in a portion that has been widened to allow two-way traffic.
Suez and Port Said are 90-miles apart. The Great Bitter Lake (where Evergiven is located) is 1/2 way between them.
Math question: If a Southbound ship is moving at 15 mph, and a Northbound ship is moving at 15 mph... and they both start out 90 miles apart, how long will it take them to meet? Oh... about 3 hours.
Except that all day long you can see ships moving in both directions. It's not "close for one way / open for other / empty out entire canal for several hours". Portions of the canal have separate channels for north and southbound, the Great Bitter Lake is also where north and southbound ships travel simultaneously. Closing the entire length of the Suez is abnormal.