Up to 1976 only ships up to 65,000 deadweight tons (loaded) and up to 200,000 deadweight tons (in ballast) could transit the Suez Canal, which had a depth of 12.15 m (40 ft.).
Ukuya kutsho ngo1976, iinqanawa ezinobuninzi obufileyo beetoni obungamawaka angamashumi amathandathu anesihlanu kuphela (alayishiweyo) ukuya malunga namakhulu amabini amawaka obunzima obufileyo beetoni (izinto ezininzi ezilayishelwa ukuzinzisa inqanawa) ezinokuthutha ijelo laseSuez, eli linobunzulu obuyi 12, 15 yemitha (iinyamo ezingamashishini mane).