Suez Canal Authority oversees transit of heavy-lift giant HUA RUI LONG

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has overseen the transit of the semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel HUA RUI LONG through the New Suez Canal as part of the south convoy.

SCA Chairman and Managing Director Ossama Rabiee said the vessel is one of the largest heavy-lift ships in the world. It sailed through the Canal after passing Bab El-Mandab, en route from Singapore to Denmark.

Built in 2022, the vessel is operated by China’s Guangzhou Salvage Bureau. It measures 252 metres in length and 77.7 metres in breadth, with a gross tonnage of 115,254 tonnes. It transited the Canal carrying the vessel NORTHERN ENDEAVOUR on board.

The operation required special navigational measures as the vessel’s breadth exceeds the standard 75-metre limit. The SCA deployed four tugboats to ensure safe passage. Six senior SCA pilots were assigned to the transit, supported by escort tugs and real-time monitoring from the Main Traffic Control Center and pilot stations along the Canal.

Rabiee said the successful transit highlights the Canal’s ability to accommodate large and specialised vessels. He pointed to recent infrastructure upgrades, including the New Suez Canal and the Southern Sector Development Project.

According to the Authority, the Southern Sector expansion increased navigational safety by 28% after a 40-metre eastward widening of the waterway. The New Suez Canal’s straight course and limited curvature have also improved its capacity for special transits.

The SCA handled 27 vessels of this class in 2025 and four more since the start of 2026.

Rabiee said choosing the Suez Canal reduces transit time, operating costs and carbon emissions. For this voyage, the Canal saved approximately 3,432 nautical miles compared with alternative routes.

HUA RUI LONG previously transited the Canal in ballast in October 2022 on its maiden passage through the waterway.

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