Some 53 vessels crossed the Suez Canal from the two directions on Monday with totals estimated at 2.1 tons.

A statement issued by the South convoy said 22 vessels with total loads estimated at 1 million tons crossed the Canal.

The statement said some 31 crossed the new Suez Canal with total loads estimated at 1.1 million tons.

The development came weeks after President Abdel Fattah El Sisi inaugurated the new Canal in the presence of world leaders and figures