The Suez Canal ( In Arabic: Qanat as-Suways ), is an artificial sea-level waterway running north to south across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The canal separates the African continent from Asia, and it provides the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and western Pacific oceans. The canal is owned completely by the Egyptian government. No shares are available in the stock market. It is one of the world’s most heavily used shipping lanes. The Suez Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world.[1] https://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/English/About/SuezCanal/Pages/AboutSuezCanal.aspx.
Its length is 193.30 km (120.11 mi) including its northern and southern access-channels. In 2020, more than 18,500 vessels traversed the canal (an average of 51.5 per day). [2]https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/25/middleeast/suez-canal-ship-sand-intl-hnk/index.html
How long does it take for a vessel to transit the canal? According to Suez Canal Authority (SCA), it takes 12 to 16 hours.