The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has announced that the semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel HUA RUI LONG successfully transited the New Suez Canal as part of the southbound convoy.
Arriving from Singapore via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the vessel is bound for Denmark carrying the ship NORTHERN ENDEAVOUR.
Owned by the Guangzhou Salvage Bureau and built in 2022, the HUA RUI LONG vessel measures 252 meters in length and 77 meters in width, with a gross tonnage of 115,254 tons.
Admiral Osama Rabiee, Chairman of the SCA, stated that the transit required bespoke navigational measures because the ship’s width exceeds the standard 75-metre limit. To ensure safe passage, the HUA RUI LONG vessel was escorted by four tugboats and guided by six senior pilots, with real-time monitoring provided by the main traffic office and pilotage stations along the waterway.
He added that recent infrastructure development projects have significantly enhanced navigational safety and increased the canal’s capacity, reinforcing its position as the fastest, shortest, and safest route for specialized maritime operations. In 2025, the canal handled 27 vessels of this type, in addition to four more since the beginning of 2026.
Admiral Rabiee highlighted that the canal handled 27 similar vessels in 2025 and four since the start of this year. He noted that the Southern Sector Development Project has enhanced navigational safety by 28 percent and widened the canal by 40 meters to the east.
Choosing the Suez Canal route saves approximately 3,432 nautical miles compared to alternative paths, significantly reducing transit time, costs, and carbon emissions, the SCA Chairman further added.
