Suez Canal Transit

Service

Suez Canal Transit Guide :

  1. Arrival Notices :

Suez Canal Authority Requires Five Days Arrival Notice of Vessel’s ETA for Transit.

Vessel should advise following details (through Marine Trust Agent) to Suez Canal Authority:

ETA, Name, Nationality, Call Sign, any Ex Name

Suez Canal GRT

Suez Canal NRT

Date of last Transit

DWT

Draft

Suez Canal ID

Beam, LOA

Any Special Requirements as Crew change, Cash, repairs, etc.

  1. Arrival Registration:

 

To avoid missing convoys and/or delays, Master, on arrival should immediately contact the pilot by VHF:

CHANNELS 12 & 16 AT PORT SAID.

CHANNELS 14 & 16 SUEZ.

Captain have to contact agent on arrival to Portsaid port limits in order to follow the vessels arrival and assist the Master when

necessary.

  1. Convoys:
  1. PORT SAID – S. B. (Southbound Convoy)
  1. A) Southbound Convoys

(from Port Said to Suez)

There are two SB Convoys N1 and N2

  1. First Convoy N1

Timing: Commences 0100 hrs up to 0500 hrs

Limit time: Limit time of arrival at anchorage is 1900 hrs

Surcharge: Vessels arrive 1900 hrs till 2100 hrs can join the Convoy but against a surcharge of 3 PCT of Canal Dues, while vessels arrive 2100 hrs till 2200 hrs can join the convoy against additional 5 PCT of Canal Transit Dues.

Transit Time: 14 -16 hours. Vessels anchor at Bitter Lake.

Type of Vessels Included:

3rd and 4th Generation Container Vessels

VLCC in ballast

Vessels with a draft over 42 ft

LPG, LNG Loaded or not Gas Free

Vessels in Port Said Harbor

Vessels with over 35000 SCGT.

Loaded Tankers

Navy Ships

Bulk Carriers Carrying Petroleum

  1. Second Convoy N2

Timing: Commences 0700 hrs up to 0900 hrs

Limit time: Limit time of arrival at anchorage is 0300 hrs

Surcharge: Vessels arrive 0300 hrs till 0400 hrs can join the Convoy but against a surcharge of 3 PCT of Canal Transit Dues,

while vessels arriving 0400 hrs till 0500 hrs can join the convoy against a surcharge of 5 PCT of Canal Dues.

Transit Time: 14 16 hours. Vessels make fast in Ballah Branch.

Vessels which are Not Allowed to Join N2 for Safety Reasons:

Vessels in ballast over 90000 SCGRT

Navy Ships

Loaded Vessels Carrying Petroleum grade A and similar Products with F/P below 23C

Vessels with Beam over 145 ft

Vessels with Draft over 42 ft

LPG, LNG Vessels loaded or not gas free

Vessels Carrying Un-containerised Radio Active materials

Vessels Carrying Explosives

Non-Double Fitted Bottom Vessels Carrying Chemicals in Bulk.

  1. B) Northbound Convoy

(from Suez to Port Said)

Only one Northbound Convoy Consists of Two Groups.

Timing:

Commences at 0600 hrs up to 1130 hrs

Transit time: 12 – 14 hours. Vessels make free run from Port Said to Suez.

Group A

Limit time: Limit time of arrival at anchorage is 0100 hrs

Surcharge: Vessels arrive 0100 hrs till 0300 hrs can join this group but against a surcharge of 3 PCT of Canal Transit Dues,

while vessels arriving 0300 hrs till 0330 hrs can join the Convoy against a surcharge of 5 PCT of Canal Dues.

Types of Vessels in Group A:

3rd and 4th Generations Container Vessels

Loaded VLCCs

LPG, LNG Loaded or ballasted not gas free

Conventional Tankers

Lash Vessels over 35000 SCGRT

Heavy Bulk Carriers

RoRo Ships and other Vessels over 40000 SCGRT

Loaded Chemical Tankers

Navy Ships

Vessels with Draft over 38 ft or length over 950 ft BP

Group B

Limit time: Limit time of arrival at anchorage is 0300 hrs

Surcharge: Vessels arrive 0300 hrs till 0400 hrs can join this group but against a surcharge of 3 PCT of Canal Transit Dues, while vessels arriving 0400 hrs till 0500 hrs can join the Convoy against a surcharge of 5 PCT of Canal Dues.

Types of Vessels in Group B:

All Cargo and other Vessels.

  1. Canal Dues:

 

Suez Canal Rate of transit dues to be applied according to Suez Canal Authority Circular.

  1. Suez Canal Characteristics:

 

Overall length: 192 km

From Port Said to Ismailia: 78 km

From Ismailia to Port Tawfik: 84 km

From the Fairway Buoy to Port Said Light house: 22.5km

Breadth at water level 300 m

Width Between buoys 180 m

Maximum permissible draught of ships 53 ft

Depth of the Canal 19.5/20 m

Cross Sectional area: 4000/4500 m2

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels over 300 tons

Speed Limits: 11km/h -16km/h depending on Vessel type and tonnage of the vessel

Average transit time is 14 hours

Regarding Suez Canal transit rules, pls find hereunder Suez canal rules of Navigation:

https://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/English/Navigation/Pages/RulesOfNavigation.aspx