Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How long does a ship usually take to travel through the Suez Canal?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Suez Canal
Ships in the Suez Canal in Egypt. One of the world's most important shipping lanes, the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
Since 1975, the transit time for a ship to travel through the Suez Canal has typically ranged from 11 to 16 hours.1
Historically, transit times have fluctuated based on the canal's infrastructure and operational procedures:
- Early operations: In the canal's early years, transit time averaged 40 hours, as ships had to stop in passing bays to allow for one-way traffic.1
- Mid-20th century: By 1939, transit time was reduced to 13 hours. Following the adoption of a convoy system in 1947, transit time increased to 15 hours by 1967 due to the significant growth in tanker traffic.1
Today, the canal is managed by the Suez Canal Authority, and transits are facilitated by pilots and radar control. Recent expansions, including the 2015 project that added a parallel channel, have enabled two-way traffic, helping to maintain efficient passage through this critical artery of international trade.12