Midway?

For much of the canal the traffic is single lane.  In the center area there are two natural lakes of sufficient size that many vessels can wait to complete the transit or anchor when necessary.   Last February a new side channel opened on the northern side of the canal which makes it possible for traffic to proceed simultaneously in both directions.   Prior to this time convoys proceeded in each direction and then passed each other in Bitter Lake approximately midway.  

From our eastern northbound lane you can see a large
container ship transiting on the southbound (western) side.

At several points there are now openings between the older western side and the new eastern side.   At one point we saw an acompanying tug enter the opening and return to the south.  Immediately a new tug came to our side and replaced that tug going north bound.  Al said the first tug had to hurry back home for dinner!

Same ship as above--just a closer view!

"Passing" another southbound vessel.