Cairo: A report out by classification society DNV GL suggests the Suez Canal will need further dredging and widening if containerships get much larger. The canal is currently undergoing expansion to add a second channel, but details about whether the waterway will be dredged remain unclear.
Current 18,000 teu newbuilds are designed with a cross section close to the limits imposed by the Suez Canal. With a beam of less than 60 m and a scantling draft of 16 m, they are within the limits set by the Suez Canal Authorities (SCA), DNV GL noted.
“The Canal limitations may, however, restrict the choices for designers should the industry go for even bigger ships,” the society reported. [26/10/14]
