Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), announced the successful transit of the floating dock “DOURADO,” marking the largest qualitative transit operation in the Canal’s history.
The floating dock, measuring 90 meters wide and weighing 91,000 tons, was towed through the Canal’s new waterway by two escorting tugs from Singapore and guided by five SCA tugs under the supervision of senior pilots and tug masters. Spanning 450 meters in total length (including the dock and tugs), its passage required complex navigation arrangements and precise control of air and water currents.
The operation, which took nearly 24 hours, involved rigorous planning by the SCA, including a navigation plan developed by the Navigation Monitoring Center, pre-transit inspections at the Suez Anchorage Area, and simulation training at the SCA’s Maritime Training Academy. A team of 16 pilots and 10 tug masters coordinated the dock’s movement, supported by continuous monitoring and strict adherence to a 4-knot speed limit.
The success underscores the Canal’s capacity to handle challenging operations, with expanded capabilities following the southern sector development project that increased the Canal’s width by 40 meters, allowing vessels up to 90 meters wide to transit safely.
Adm. Rabiee highlighted the significance of the operation, emphasizing the Suez Canal’s readiness to provide advanced navigation, maritime, and logistical services. He also noted that the Canal’s expansion was crucial for accommodating large floating units like the “DOURADO,” enhancing its global competitiveness.
To remind, Van Oord recently finished dredging two new port basins in Ain Sokhna Port, successfully completing a project that forms part of a port expansion programme.
