Study of Damietta branch meander suitability for inland first-class river cargo transportation

The current research aims to study the suitability of Damietta branch meanders for safe first-class cargo transportation. This branch is the River Nile eastern waterway bifurcated at the beginning of Delta region which is about 22 km downstream El-Roda gauge in Cairo. It extends for 244 km to the Mediterranean Sea. The branch plan form was examined for meanders. 51 meanders could be identified throughout. Their characteristics were analyzed. The results revealed the existence of eight sharp meanders and other seven critical looping ones that would slow down and jeopardize the first-class navigation traffic. It was also found that about 68 % of the looping meander lengths could be saved if cutoffs are implemented. Accordingly, examples of straightening the river at four meanders were proposed for clarification. It was found that their lengths could be reduced by 51.10 %. Finally, the study concluded that in order for Damietta branch to be well qualified and entitled to safe first-class cargo transportation, the identified sharp meanders and critical loops should be enhanced to be normal navigable meanders by re-channelization works.