Ship canal

.]] A ship canal is a canal especially constructed to carry ocean-going ships, as opposed to barges. Ship canals can be enlarged barge canals, canalized or channelized rivers, or canals especially constructed from the start to accommodate ships.

For a canal to qualify as a ship canal, it must have a minimum depth of at least 5 metres (16.4 feet), although many are much deeper. The purpose of a ship canal is: # To create a shortcut and avoid lengthy detours. # To create a navigable shipping link between two land-locked seas or lakes. # To provide inland cities with a direct shipping link to the sea. # To provide an economical alternative to other options.

Important ship canals (by length)

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ '''List of important ship canals by length |- ! canal || length || lock depth || dimensions || location || notes |- | White Sea – Baltic Canal || || || || Russia ||

Opened in 1933, is partly a canalised river, partly an artificial canal, and partly some natural lakes.

Shallow depth limits modern vessels from using the canal.

|- | Rhine-Main-Danube Canal || || || lock dimensions: 190m x 11.45m x 4m || Germany ||

Opened in 1992, links the large rivers Rhine and Danube, and thus also the North Sea and the Black Sea.

|- | Suez Canal || || || wide || Egypt ||

Opened in 1869, links the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

|- | Volga-Don Canal || || || lock dimensions: 140m x 16.6m x 3.5m || Russia ||

Opened in 1952, connects the Black, Azov, and Caspian Seas.

|- | Kiel Canal || || || lock dimensions: 310m x 42m x 14m || Germany ||

Opened in 1895. Shortens the passage between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

|- | Houston Ship Channel || || || wide || USA ||

Connects Houston, Texas to the Gulf of Mexico.

|- | Alphonse XIII Canal || || || || Spain ||

Opened in 1926, mostly canalised river. Links Seville to the Gulf of Cadiz.

|- | Panama Canal || || || lock dimensions: 320m x 33.53m x 25.9 m || Panama ||

Opened in 1914. Links the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, creating a shortcut.

|- | Danube-Black Sea Canal || || || lock dimensions: 138m x 16.8m x 5.5m || Romania ||

Opened in 1984. Links the Danube to the Black Sea.

|- | Manchester Ship Canal || || || lock dimensions: 170.68m x 21.94m x 8.78m || England ||

Opened in 1894. Links Manchester to Irish Sea.

|- | Welland Canal || || || lock dimensions: 225.5m x 2.3m x 8.2 m || Canada ||

Opened in 1931. Links Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and is part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.

|- | Saint Lawrence Seaway || || || lock dimensions: 225.5m x 2.3m x 8.2 m || Canada, USA ||

Links Montreal with Lake Superior.

|}

Navigability

The standard used in the European Union for classifying the navigability of inland waterways is the European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN) of 1996, adopted by The Inland Transport Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), which defines the following classes: (This table is incomplete.)

References

Category:Coastal construction