1. An artificial waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats or ships inland or to convey water for irrigation. 2.

A tubular duct in a plant or animal, serving to convey or contain food, liquid, or air: "the ear canal".
Canal Length Lock depth Dimensions Location Notes

White Sea Baltic Canal

Opened in 1933, is partly a canalised river, partly an

141 mi (227 km)

3.5 m (11 ft)

135m 14.3 m 3.5m

Russia

artificial canal, and partly some natural lakes. Shallow depth limits modern vessels from using the canal. Opened in 1992, links the large

RhineMainDanube Canal

106 mi (171 km)

4m (13 ft)

lock dimensions: 190m x 11.45m x 4m

Germany

rivers Rhine and Danube, and thus also the North Sea and the Black Sea.

No locks, 120.11 mi 205 m (673 ft) Suez Canal but 24 m (193.30 km) wide (79 ft) deep. lock dimensions: 140m x 16.6m x 3.5m lock dimensions: 310m x 42m x 14m 161 m (528 ft) wide lock dimensions: 320m x 33.53m x 25.9 m

Egypt

Opened in 1869, links the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

Russia

Opened in 1952, connects the Black, Azov, and Caspian Seas.

Volga-Don 62 mi Canal (100 km)

3.5 m (11 ft)

Germany

Opened in 1895. Shortens the passage between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Kiel Canal

60 mi (97 km)

14 m (46 ft)

Houston Ship Channel

56 mi (90 km)

14 m (46 ft)

USA

Connects Houston, Texas to the Gulf of Mexico.

Panama Canal

51 mi (82 km)

25.9 m (85 ft)

Panama

Opened in 1914. Links the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, creating a

Canal

Length

Lock depth

Dimensions

Location

Notes

shortcut. DanubeBlack Sea Canal lock dimensions: 138m x 16.8m x 5.5m lock dimensions: 170.68m x 21.94m x 8.78m lock dimensions: 225.5m x 2.3m x 8.2 m lock dimensions: 225.5m x 2.3m x 8.2 m

40 mi (64 km)

5.5 m (18 ft)

Romania

Opened in 1984. Links the Danube to the Black Sea.

UK

Opened in 1894. Links the inland city of Manchester to Irish Sea.

Manchester 36 mi Ship Canal (58 km)

8.78 m (28.8 ft)

Canada

Opened in 1931. Links Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and is part of theSaint Lawrence Seaway.

Welland Canal

43.4 km (27.0 mi)

8.2 m (27 ft)

Saint Lawrence Seaway

8.2 m (27 ft)

Canada USA

Links Montreal with Lake Superior.

A ship canal is a canal especially intended to accommodate ships used on the oceans, seas or lakes to which it is connected, as opposed to a barge canal intended to carry barges and other vessels specifically designed for river and/or canal navigation. Because of the constraints of accommodating vessels capable of navigating large bodies of open water, a ship canal typically offers deeper water and higher bridge clearances that a barge canal of similar vessel length and width constraints. Ship canals may be especially constructed from the start to accommodate ships, or less frequently they may be enlarged barge canals, or canalized or channelized rivers. There are no specific minimum dimensions for ship canals, with the size being largely dictated by the size of ships in use nearby at the time of construction or enlargement. Ship canals may be constructed for a number of reasons, including: 1. To create a shortcut and avoid lengthy detours. 2. To create a navigable shipping link between two land-locked seas or lakes. 3. To provide inland cities with a direct shipping link to the sea. 4. To provide an economical alternative to other options.

The Suez Canal is considered to be the shortest link between the east and the west due to its unique geographic location; it is an important international navigation canal linking between the Mediterranean sea at Port said and the red sea at Suez .The unique geographical position of the Suez Canal makes it of special importance to the world and to Egypt as well. This importance is getting augmented with the evolution of maritime transport and world trade. The maritime transport is the cheapest means of transport, whereas more than 80 % of the world trade volume is transported via waterways (seaborne trade). Saving in distance , time and in operating costs for vessels that transit the Canal, also firm up this importance.

Advantages of the Suez Canal

It is the longest canal in the world without locks. The accidents are almost nil compared with other waterways. Navigation goes day and night. The Canal is liable to be widened and deepened when required, to cope with the development in ship sizes and tonnages. With the adoption of the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) ( a system depending upon the most upto-date radar network), vessels can be monitored and followed on every spot of the Canal and intervention in emergency cases can be taken. The Suez Canal accommodates the partially loaded VLCCs and ULCCs .