Although the canal saves the 700-kilometre (430 mi) journey around the Peloponnese, it is too narrow for modern ocean freighters, as it can accommodate ships only of a width up to 17.6 metres (58 ft) and draft up to 7.3 metres (24 ft). In October 2019, with over 900 passengers on board, a 22.5 metres (74 ft) wide and 195 metres (640 ft) long Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines cruise ship successfully traversed the canal to set a new record for longest ship to pass through the canal. Ships can pass through the canal only one convoy at a time on a one-way system. Larger ships have to be towed by tugs.[37] The canal is currently used mainly by tourist ships; around 11,000 ships per year travel through the waterway.[38]

key@lemmy.keychat.org · 21 pts · 2y (10 replies)

It can only accommodate 58ft wide ships but it can accomodate a 74 ft wide ship?

PugJesus@lemmy.world · 36 pts · 2y

Safety issue/margin, I would presume, whereas the cruise ship was trying to set a record and thus probably got whoever was in charge to waive the normal standards.

unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de · 8 pts · 2y (5 replies)

I assume it didnt go through there by itself as you can guess by the ropes tied to the tow ship that is probably pulling it.

SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 2y (4 replies)

Larger ships have to be towed by tugs.

Yes that was addressed in the comment.

unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 2y (2 replies)

Bruh i actually did skim over it a second time because i expected it to be there, but i still missed it somehow. Thanks for the correction :) But yeah point being the big ass ships cant maneuver precisely enough to be allowed to steer themselves in a canal this narrow.

SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Sorry yeah, that was definitely rude, having a bad morning, figured like you replied to a response to them and just didn’t read the comment… so common these days unfortunately.

unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 2y

All good, enjoy your day ^^

hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 2y

Also you can see the towing ropes in picture

thepreciousboar@lemm.ee · 8 pts · 2y

17.6m was probably the maximum allowed width, but it was possible to pass through with bigger ships, but my guess is that insurance companies would not like it very much

wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y

Just gotta push it, push it real good

qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website · 1 pts · 2y

I wonder if this is width at waterline vs. overall width confusion?

Madison420@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 2y (3 replies)

You missed the craziest part, it started being dug in the time of ancient Greece and in fact there's a commemoration carving of Hercules on one of the entrances.

https://corinthianmatters.org/2016/04/11/on-the-remains-of-neros-corinth-canal-project/

Jimbo@yiffit.net · 4 pts · 2y (1 reply)

-To be that guy, probably more accurate to call him Heracles when talking about Greek things

Madison420@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y

True enough.

UnrefinedChihuahua@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 2y

Great read, thank you!

BrambinagStoneboots@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 2y

That's the Corinth Canal in Greece.

Treczoks@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y

Corinth Canal - yes, this is normal there.

original_reader@lemm.ee · 3 pts · 2y