SUEZ CANAL

• Vessels transiting the Canal must have mooring boats, as mentioned hereafter, hired from the Suez Canal mooring company and approved by the SCA.
• If no motor mooring boats from said company are available, the ship’s boats, if suitable for mooring in the Canal (open type with motor lifeboat), can be used and must be manned by a shore crew, hired from the SC mooring company. Each boat is to be manned by three men.
  – One motorboat for vessels up to 5,000 SCGT.
  – Two motorboats for vessels over 5,000 SCGT.
• Ships may ask for additional motorboats according to the master’s request. During the transit of the vessel, these motor mooring boats must always be ready to lower the ropes to the mooring posts or bollards, without any delay.
• Ships must be fitted with well maintained lifting appliances capable of lifting mooring boats of up to 4 tons (including crew members).
• In order to facilitate navigation, ships may carry extra mooring boats. However, LPG, LNG and loaded tankers are not allowed any extra boats.
• Masters are requested to reduce speed during the lifting or lowering operations of mooring boats. An officer must be in charge, to avoid accidents that may endanger the life of the mooring crew.
• If the vessel has no means of lifting mooring boats and the ship’s boats (closed type lifeboats) are not suitable for mooring in the Canal, it will not be allowed to transit the Canal unless escorted by an imposed tug boat.

• All ships passing the Canal must have onboard a Canal projector placed on the axis of the bow, able to illuminate up to 1,800 meters.
• Vessels carrying petroleum products (or inflammable substances), LPGs or LNGs should have their own “gastight” projector.
• In order to prevent accidents during lowering and lifting operations, it is mandatory for ships with bulbous bows to have their own projectors, unless their bows are lower than 10 ft above sea level.
• In accordance with Canal rules, vessels that have their own projectors need to have projectors of approved type and have a certificate of type test issued by a recognized authority.
• If the ship is equipped with a portable projector, a special installation is required.
• A floating projector weighs about 1.5 tons. A ship should have the means to lift it.

• In order for the projector to operate smoothly and continuously, the ships should be able to supply uninterrupted electricity.
• For safety reasons, the electric cables and connections leading to the projector must be safely and permanently attached. A gastight junction box must be permanently installed close to the projector.
• Two shore electricians will board to operate the projector during transit, regardless of whether the projector is owned or hired. Accommodation should be provided for them.
• If the ship fails to comply with the conditions above, a 5,000 USD fine will be imposed in the future, during the second transit, if the defect has not been rectified.

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• Height : 68 m maximum air draft
• Length : No restrictions. Vessels over 400 m in length may transit with special arrangements.
• Beam : 245 ft 3 in for ballast transit
  o Vessels with beams over 245 ft 3 in may be allowed to transit the Canal under special request.
  o Vessels with beams over 210 ft and up to 245 ft 3 in are allowed to transit, but only during calm weather. Beam wind should not exceed 10 knots.
• Draft :
  o Ballast vessels: recommended draft is less than or equal to 40 ft for vessels with beam up to 254 ft 3 in.
  o Ships can transit the Suez Canal south or northbound with up to 62 ft in draft and 175 ft in beam. An SCA table is available for ships with a larger beam, which provides the maximum draft a ship can transit with. For more information, see the draft/beam table in SC Rules of Navigation Art. 52 table 2 p.71 – p.75.
  o According to table 2, the maximum draft for loaded vessels must not exceed the tropical load line.
  o In the absence of a tropical load line on the load line certificate, the maximum draft allowed will be the summer load line.
  o To transit the Canal with a draft greater than 50 ft and up to 66 ft, vessels must effect a successful sea trial before entering the Canal at either Suez or Port Said.
  o Authorization granted to one ship of a group cannot be applied to sister ships.
• Transit Speed:
  o Vessels allowed to transit at a speed of 14 km/h:
   Loaded LPGs & LNGs.
   Loaded oil tankers and bulk cargo ships with a draft over 44 ft. (except container ships).
  o The speed limit for vessels other than those listed above is 16 km/h.
  o On slow speed vessels, additional transit dues are imposed according to the following table:

• If the vessel’s transit speed is equal to the critical speed, the vessel must call the port office.

• Number of convoys: 2
  > The southbound convoy:
  o Starts at 0330‐ direct transit.
  o Time limit for arrival: South of lat. 31 28 .7 N Limited by long. 32 37.43 E. at 2300.
  >  The northbound convoy:
  o Starts at 0400 – direct transit.
  o Time limit for arrival: North of lat. 29 42. 8 N. limited by long. 32 23.1 E & Long. 32 41 .5E. at 2300.
• For anchor positions and pilot boarding instructions, please contact port control (Suez on CH-14/16 and Said on CH-12/16) 15/10/5 miles before arrival.
• Canal transit normally takes 10–12Hrs (free run) excluding any waiting/anchorage time.
• Pilotage system is applied.
• The maximum speed allowed is 16 km/hr for ordinary vessels & 14 km/hr for tankers.
• Surcharge for vessels arriving after the time limit:
  ‍ Ships arriving between 2300 hrs and 0000 hrs lt: 5% additional Canal toll to join the northbound convoy, with a maximum of 12,500 SDR.
   Ships arriving between 0000 hrs and 0100 hrs lt: 10% additional Canal toll to join the northbound convoy, with a maximum of 25,000 SDR.
   Ships arriving after 0100 hrs lt: 12% additional Canal toll to join the northbound convoy, with a maximum of 30,000 SDR.(The time of arrival will be registered by SCA radars once the whole vessel has passed the mentioned latitude and longitudinal.)
• Convoy cancelation:
  ‍ If a vessel booked in a convoy arrives after 2300 hrs lt and is not authorized for late payment dues, a fine of 1,000-3,000 USD will be charged.
   If a vessel is registered and authorized for late arrival, the payment will be as follows:
  ‍
  – Authorized for payment to up to 5% only, but arrived after 2400 hrs lt and did not intend to pay 10%: 5,000 USD fine.
  – Authorized for payment to up to 10% only, but arrived after 0100 hrs lt and did not intend to pay 12%: 5,000 USD fine.
  – Authorized for payment to up to 12%, but arrived after 0100 hrs lt and could not be accommodated by the SCA in the convoy due to traffic system arrangement: 5,000 USD fine.
   There will be a charge of 1,000-3,000 USD if the transit is canceled between 1100 and 2300 hrs lt.
   When a vessel arrives prior to 2300 hrs lt but is experiencing machinery or related issues, the time of arrival will be considered upon the harbormaster’s inspection. The vessel will need to be disembarked, or a sea worthiness certificate will have to be submitted. For a 2,000 USD charge, a sea trail will be applied by the SCA during transit.
• When the vessel fails or has an issue that prevents it from joining the convoy, the SCA can arrange for the committee to board the vessel during anchorage for inspection and confirm that the failure has been repaired. If the failure has been repaired, the SCA can approve the validity of the vessel to transit, against charges:
   A fee of 2,000 USD is charged by the SC Committee for inspecting and approving the validity of the vessel’s transit.
   An application should be submitted to SC for arranging the necessary motorboat to embark and disembark the SC committee according to SC’s motorboat tariff.
   In the event that the class surveyor is unable to board the vessel, the owner/operator/agent may request the SCA to form a committee to check the transit validity.
• As mentioned in the circular 13/2022 and to avoid a 10,000 USD fine, the master must notify the agent before transit if the vessel has any defects.
• Charts No. R11, M24, SC01 & SC02 must be available onboard, as per SC instructions. If not, the agent must acquire said charts, as it is compulsory to have them available during transit. Otherwise, a fine will be imposed, as stressed in the SC circular 5/2015.

• General arrangement plan (original drawings for all pcs/sheets).
• Capacity plan (original drawings).
• Engine room arrangement plan, machinery arrangement or engine room layout (original drawings for all pcs).
• Accommodation plan (original drawings for all pcs/sheets).
• Sounding book (water ballast and fuel oil).
• Suez Canal tonnage certificate with calculation sheet (including under deck calculations).
  – If the SC tonnage certificate is not available on board, the SCA will calculate the transit tolls using GRT.
  – If the SC tonnage certificate is available onboard without the full calculation sheet (including under deck calculations), the SCA will calculate the transit tolls using SCGT.
  -In both cases, transit dues will increase compared to SCNT.
• A sea trail will be applied by the SCA before transit, for a 2,000 USD charge.

• The transit due estimate for special cases vessels such as rigs, piplays, heavy cargo & tug / tow vessels, is only calculated by the SC head office on a case-by-case basis.
• It takes a time to be receiving SC reply with the estimated transit dues (about 7–10 days).
• The required documents & information are requested by SCA as follow:
  o Copy of registry certificate of each vessel.
  o Copy of SC tonnage certificate of each vessel.
  o Date of last transit of each vessel or it will be their first transit.
  o Barge in loaded / ballast condition.
  o Is the vessel leased to a military?
  o Is the barge sailing to be scrapped?
  o Does the barge have his main engine? What is his max. maneuvering speed?
  o Does the barge have a rudder?
  o Crane barges SWL.
  o Barge max. dimensions during transit (draft, air draft, beam & LOA) including projections.
  o A copy of the stowage plan.
  o A copy of the general arrangement plan.

• Any vessel may be required to take one or more tugs during Canal transits, if, in the SCA’s judgment, it is necessary to ensure the vessel’s or the Canal’s safety.
• Any vessel without mechanical power, or whose machinery is or becomes disabled, or that has bad steering, or that is liable to become unmanageable, shall be towed through the Canal.
• Vessels having engine or steering gear trouble for the second time during the same passage.
• Ships with bad views from the wheelhouse and wings due to deck cargo, containers, cranes, or constructions. The SC port office may decide, after checking, for the safety of the ship and of the Canal, that the ship must be towed. Container ships are considered to have a bad view if the pilot cannot see steering lights from the wings and wheelhouse.
• Vessels of 1500 SCGT and over unable to use one of their bow anchors.
• Vessels of 1500 SCGT and over built with one anchor.
• Vessels of 1500 SCGT and over built with more than one anchor, with only one of them on the bow.
• Drilling vessels.
• Vessels with two engines on one propeller, of which one is out of order for any reason and cannot maintain a speed of at least 10 knots without current (after sea trail, to verify speed and seaworthiness certificate).
• Vessels with two engines on tow propellers of which one is out of order.
• On the master’s request, for one tug or more.
• Depending on the SCA’s report, submarines will be escorted by one or two imposed tugs (depending on the condition of the submarine, anchors, mooring facilities, power drive, etc.).
• Aircraft carriers are to be escorted by two imposed tugs.
• Scrapped vessels transiting under tow will be escorted by an SC tug.
• For general cargo and multipurpose vessels carrying explosives greater than 3 tons (explosive divisions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 according to IMDG code), a tug must be added during transit.

• When the vessel draft is greater than 47 ft, loaded vessels less than 70,000 SCNT (SCNT is assessed regardless of sizes added in transit, such as double bottom tanks or containers) will be escorted by one tug.
• Loaded vessels from 70,000 SCNT to 90,000 SCNT will be escorted by one tug.
• Loaded vessels over 90,000 SCNT will be escorted by two tugs.
• Vessels in ballast over 130,000 SCNT will be escorted by one tug.
• LPGs and LNGs over 40,000 SCNT and up to 90,000 SCNT (except GF) or loaded with ammonia cargo (LPG and LNG vessels with a deck tank completely separated from the cargo tank, with a maximum tonnage of 180 tons, will be considered as gas free vessels) (GF carriers are to be treated as tanks in ballast) will be escorted by one tug. Those over 90,000 SCNT will be escorted by two tugs.
• Vessels in ballast with beams between 218 ft and 233 ft will be escorted by one tug (approximately 66 to 71 meters).
• After arrival at the port, semi-submersibles carrying drillers or floating units (more than 300 SCNT) will be escorted by one or more tugs, as determined by the SC port office.
• During their first transit, integrated units will be escorted by one tug.
• Container ships of 170,000 SCNT and more will be escorted by two tugs.
• Loaded tankers, bulk cargo ships and chemicals under 70,000 SCNT and not equipped with double bottom tanks will be escorted by one tug.