The floating dock GREEN DOCK 3, towed by the tugboat Persistence and guided by four additional Suez Canal Authority (SCA) tugboats, completed its 24-hour transit of the Suez Canal as part of the South Convoy. The dock, en route from Indonesia to Türkiye, had previously crossed the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait safely. Measuring 290 metres in length, 57 metres in width, with a draft of 8 metres, GREEN DOCK 3 is a large towed marine unit with a total carrying capacity of 42,000 tonnes. Its transit required special navigational measures due to its non-self-propelled status. SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said the operation reflects the canal's readiness to handle unconventional marine units of all sizes and types. He highlighted the expertise of the canal's pilots and the Authority's tugboat captains in ensuring safe navigation. Rabie added that ongoing development projects have improved navigational safety, particularly in the New Suez Canal, which provides a straighter route with fewer bends. The widening of the southern sector by 40 metres allows the canal to accommodate large specialised units that previously could not transit. The Suez Canal also shortens the Indonesia-Türkiye route by 6,000 nautical miles, reducing the distance by 48 per cent compared to the Cape of Good Hope route. This lowers transit time, operational costs, fuel consumption, and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by around 996 tonnes. Captain Viktor Kishlian of the tugboat Persistence said the voyage from Indonesia through the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Bab el-Mandeb Strait was entirely safe. He confirmed that the Suez Canal offers the ideal combination of reduced transit time and lower operating costs, making it the preferred route from east to west and a vital channel for global trade. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
