11. Suez Canal transit - part two

We woke at 5.30am to find that our Suez Canal transit had already commenced. The sun had not yet risen, but there was already a lot to see and much activity along the banks of the canal.

As befits a Princess, we were the first in the convoy. It is difficult to see too far behind us, but there are several large container ships following half a mile or so off our stern, as well as a small tug boat which is sailing alongside us. There was not a cloud in the sky, but as the sun crept above the eastern horizon, the air became very hazy indeed.

Over the first few miles, the right hand side of the canal is reasonably built up. There is both a busy motorway and a railway running parallel to the waterway and each train that passes blows its whistle enthusiastically. There are also huge piles of sand every half mile or so, no doubt the result of the constant dredging that is required to keep the canal navigable. On the canal itself, there are many small rowing boats with the locals casting out their fishing nets. Looking further out across the countryside, it is surprisingly green, mostly trees, but some irrigated fields.

Conversely, the left hand side of the canal is barren and mostly flat desert but interspersed with sand dunes for as far as the eye can see.

One of the most immediate and obvious features as we travel along is the amount of military security on show. Where the roads run close to the canal bank, police and army trucks keep pace with us, and every 400 yards or so is a guard tower. There are many garrisons and barracks and a helicopter has been buzzing overhead. The guards and the locals all stop to wave and whistle, cheer and take selfies as we sail serenely by....perhaps cruise ships are a bit of a rarity in the canal.

As we approached the midway point just before the expanse of the Bitter Lakes, the canal splits into two sea lanes and this area affords ample space for the northbound convoy to pass us. That convoy consists of perhaps 30 vessels with the largest container ships at the front, followed by smaller gas and oil tankers and lastly the smallest cargo ships taking up the rear positions. It takes a couple of hours for everything to glide slowly by on our port side.

Once through the Lakes, the Canal narrows and straightens once again and we are on the final stretch down to the Red Sea. At the exit to the canal is the city of Suez, a sprawl of apartment blocks, shipyards and oil refineries where th ships for tomorrow's convoy are already beginning to gather.

Our tugboat escort gives a cheery toot on its whistle and departs as the pilot boat draws alongside and collects the Egyptian authorities. A fire boat is on hand and sprays jets of water from its cannons in salute and some 8 hours after leaving Port Said our transit of the Suez Canal, one of man's engineering masterpieces, is complete.