Container Transport in the Suez Canal: A Study of Transport Geography

The aim of this study is to identify the capabilities and characteristics of the Suez Canal in the light of the characteristics of the global fleet of container ships. The study attempts to examine the movement of container ships through according to four variables: the number of ships, net tonnage, cargo quantity and the number of containers crossing the Suez Canal with regard to directions, origins, destinations or the number of container ships in contrast to the total number of vessels passing in the Suez Canal. The final section of the study focuses on alternative routes in contrast to the Suez Canal.
The conclusions of the study demonstrate that the container ships account for 40% of the total number of ships crossing the Suez Canal in 2011, while approaching 60% of total net tonnage, which is the most important variable, according to which the estimated tolls of crossing the Suez Canal represent 60% of the Suez Canal revenues amounting to $ 5.2 billion in 2011. As of 2011, the number of loaded containers traversing the Suez Canal was 38 million. In addition, the study showed that Malaysia came on the top of all origins of container traffic crossing the Suez Canal, contributing about 19% of the total net tonnage of container ships crossing the Suez Canal in 2011, while Singapore came on the top of all destinations of movement providing 21.9% of the total net tonnage of container ships crossing the Suez Canal in 2011. The study confirmed that other alternative railroad, desert or sea routes cannot compete with the Suez Canal in allowing container transport between Asia and Europe. However, the high rates of the navigation costs might lead some marine navigation companies would seek alternative routes to avoid the high fees of crossing the Suez Canal.