The official website of SkyWay company developer has published an article about how the string transport could become an alternative for shipping cargo through the Suez Canal.
As a reminder: on 23 March 2021, the freighter Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal, through which 30% of all container traffic and 12% of the world’s trading operations take place. Daily losses from blocking the passage in both directions amounted to about $9.6 billion until the canal resumed operation on 29 March.
After this occasion, many logistics companies began to look for more reliable ways to deliver goods. One such solution was offered by Unitsky String Technologies, Inc.
The company announces that a 156.4-km string track can be built along the Suez Canal, on which the Unicont cargo transport will run for transporting sea containers.
Unicont includes two traction modules for transporting standard shipping containers of 20ft and 40ft. The vehicles will be propelled by electric motors powered by a high-voltage line or batteries.
On the UST, Inc track, it will be possible to transport goods at a speed of 80 km/h, which is 5 times faster than by ship. As a result, the delivery time of a container from Port Said to Port Tawfik will be reduced from 14 hours to 2 hours and the loading and unloading process will take no more than 65 seconds.
It is estimated that the cost of constructing a 156.4-km track along the Suez Canal will be $10 million per km, not including the rolling stock and loading and unloading terminals. That is five times less than was spent on the construction of the canal itself.
The proposal was commented on by Unitsky String Technologies, Inc. CEO Nadezhda Kosareva:
«The situation in the Suez Canal has highlighted the need to diversify the logistics of the global economy. We are pleased to contribute to its strengthening with our innovative transport solutions».