Egypt to make Suez Canal deeper

CAIRO, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Egypt plans an ambitious project for deepening the Suez Canal to allow for the crossing of giant ships and tankers, officials said Thursday.

Ahmed Fadel, the head of the Canal Suez Institution, said "a new development phase aims that deepening the passageway from 62 to 66 feet."

He said the project will take one year to be completed at the cost of $200 million.

The aim of development the canal is to make possible the crossing of ships with weights exceeding 220,000 tons.

Fadel did not say when the project is supposed to kick off.