Suez Canal Information

Overall length	193 km
From the fairway buoy to Port Said lighthouse	22.5 km
From the waiting area to the southern entrance	15 km
From Port Said to Ismailia	78.5 km
From Ismailia to Port Tawfik	83.65 km
The length of doubled parts	68 km
Width at water level	300/365 m
Width between buoys	180/205 m
Maximum permissible draught for ships	58 ft.
The canal depth	21m
Cross sectional area	3900/4300 m²
Being increased to	4000/4500 m²

(SDR=Special Rates)

The following table indicates the Suez canal transit dues taking effect as of January 1,1999.
Further facilities and privileges are to be granted as explained below.

Type of vessel		Suez Canal net tonnage
		First 5000 T		Next 5000 T.		Next 10000 T.
		Laden	Ballast	Laden	Ballast	Laden	Ballast
1	Tankers of Crude Oil Only Combined Carriers of Crude Oil Only	6.49	5.52	3.62	3.08	3.25	2.77
2	Tankers of Petroleum Products Combined Carriers carrying Petroleum Products Combined Carriers carrying more than one kind of cargo	6.75	5.52	3.77	3.08	3.43	2.77
3	Dry Bulk Carriers Combined Carriers carrying dry bulk cargo only	7.21	6.13	4.14	3.52	2.97	2.3
4	Other bulk liquid LNG carriers Chemical carriers (1) Combined carriers carrying other bulk liquid	7.50	6.38	4.18	3.56	3.81	3.24
5	Liquid Petroleum Gas LPG	6.75	5.75	3.77	3.21	3.43	2.92
6	Container vessels Vehicle carriers	7.21	6.13	4.10	3.49	3.37	2.87
7	Special Floating Units	7.21	-	4.14	-	3.77	-
8	Other vessels	7.21	6.13	4.14	3.2	3.77	3.21

Table Continued:

Type of vessel		Suez Canal net tonnage
		Next 20000 T.		Next 30000 T.		Rest of tonnage
		Laden	Ballast	Laden	Ballast	Laden	Ballast
1	Tankers of Crude Oil Only Combined Carriers of Crude Oil Only	1.40	1.19	1.40	1.19	1.21	1.03
2	Tankers of Petroleum Products Combined Carriers carrying Petroleum Products Combined Carriers carrying more than one kind of cargo	1.93	1.19	1.93	1.19	1.93	1.03
3	Dry Bulk Carriers Combined Carriers carrying dry bulk cargo only	1.05	0.90	1.00	0.85	1.00	0.85
4	Other bulk liquid LNG carriers Chemical carriers (1) Combined carriers carrying other bulk liquid	2.68	2.28	2.68	2.28	2.68	2.28
5	Liquid Petroleum Gas LPG	2.42	2.06	2.42	2.06	2.42	2.06
6	Container vessels Vehicle carriers	2.42	2.06	2.42	2.06	1.83	1.6
7	Special Floating Units	2.63	-	2.63	-	2.63	-
8	Other vessels	2.63	2.24	2.63	2.24	2.63	2.21

(1) If in ballast, chemical / Oil tankers are to be charged at the same rate of oil tankers.

A) Suez Canal Rules of Navigation
*Deck Cargo

1	`Deck Cargo is to be stewed in away so as to provide clear view from the navigation bridge while transiting the Canal.`
2	Deck Cargo should not protrude more than half the vessel's breadth on any side with a maximum of 15 meters on cash side if the breadth exceeds 30 meters (Containerships are not Considered as deck cargo).
3	If the protrusion exceeds the maximum allowed, each care is to be studied separately and an additional due of 02% of the transit due is levied on each feet or fraction of feet excess.
4	Unfixed and Unenclosed deck loads are not included in the measurement closed deck loads including containers on deck cargo ships are to be included in the measurement.
5	The volume of the containers on deck is to be added to the taxable tonnage (Relevant to number of tiers on deck).

* Self steering vessels carrying floating units:
- Self steering vessels carrying on board floating units of 300 unit or more S.C. GRT are subject to the additional dues of 300% of the transit dues of the floating units, in additional to 2% of the transit dues for each feet or fraction of feet in excess of the maximum breadth authorized by item No. (3).

* Case of Escorting. Escort of VLCC, L.P.G, LNG, Large Bulk Carrier and Other Vessel to be as Follow:
1	Loaded vessels less than 130.000 DWT will be escorted by one tug if for technical reasons SCA finds it necessary or when the draft is more than 47 feet.
2	Loaded vessels more than 130.000 DWT up to 170.000 will be escorted one tug.
3	Loaded vessels over 170.000 DWT will be escorted by two tugs.
4	Vessels in Ballast over 250.000 DWT will be escorted by one tug.
5	L.P.G. & L.N.G. over 25.000 S.C. GRT (Except G.F.) will be escorted by one tug.
6	Vessels in Ballast with beam over 48 feet up to 233 feet will be escorted by one tug.
7	Vessel in Ballast with beam over 233 feet will be escorted by two tugs.
8	Towed Scrapped vessels in Ballast of 150.000 DWT and over will be escorted by one tug.

* Rates of Escorting Tug Boats:
A Unified Canal Passenger rate of 6600 SDR is to be paid for each escorting tug.

Explanation note:

The following facilities and privileges are to be granted :

First	Crude Oil Tankers Volume incentives for crude oil quantities transported through the Canal are to be calculated on the basis of such quantities that have been transported during a year starting from the contracting date with the Suez Canal Authority(Suez canal Authority ) rather than the same calendar
Second	LNG's: ballast and loaded LNG's are to granted a discount of 35% on Suez Canal dues shown in table the regardless of destination
Third	Combined carriers (O/B/O) : When transiting in ballast, combined carriers are to be charged at the same rate applied to ballast bulk carriers.
Fourth	Chemical / Oil tankers: When transiting in ballast, chemical/oil tankers are to be charged at the same rate applied to oil tankers
Fifth	Containerships : 1) In case there is an upward protrusion of more than 4 feet, the protrusion is to be calculated as an extra container. 2) The extra 6% of the Suez canal due, levied on ballast containerships carrying only empty containers in the cargo holds, are to be cancelled as well as paragraph B/5/b, articles 98 of the Suez canal rules of navigation.
Sixth	Ro/Ro ships: a) Circulars 428374 and 432728 on 25/2/1979 and 1/12/1984 respectively,regarding Ro/Ro ships which transport containers on the main deck, are to be cancelled together with 100/A, 100/B/1/b and 100/B/3 of the Suez Canal Rules of Navigation. b) Ro/Ro ships are to be treated just like containerships that carry containers on deck so far as extra dues on deck tiers are concerned, with the consideration of the following Transit dues for other categories of vessels remain to be applicable To Ro/Ro ships Rolling cargo is to be treated as containers on deck When Ro/Ro ships carry floating units or general cargo on deck, extra dues are to be calculated in accordance with circular No. 11/1995 regarding lash ships that carry floating units and/or general cargo rather than their traditional cargo the said regulations are to take effect regardless of what Ro/Ro ships carry under deck Dues calculated according to these new regulations should not exceed those calculated on the basis of adding the actual volume of containers on deck to the Suez Canal net tonnage.
Seventh	Lash ships: The additional dues of 6% levied on ballast vessels that carry only barges in their holds are to be cancelled
Eighth	general cargo ships 1) The additional dues of 6%, levied on ballast vessels that carry only empty containers in their holds - thus treated as containerships -are to be cancelled ( items 4 and 5 article 99 of the Suez Canal Rules of Navigation are to be cancelled ). 2) Item B, page 91 of the Suez Canal Rules of Navigation is to remain in effect with regards to semi-submersible vessels . Other categories of heavy lift ships are subject to the following regulations : a) Vessels that carry floating unit of 300 tons (SCGT) or more are charged extra dues of 300% of the normal dues of the floating uni, calculated on the basis of SCGT. No escort tugboat is imposed. b) vessels that carry large units are charged extra dues of 50% of the normal transit dues if the large unit is 250 metric tons or more, No escort tug boat is imposed.
Ninth	Special floating units : A unified rate of transit dues is to be applied on the following floating units as shown below -Yachts -Dredgers -Rigs - Floats decks -Fishing boats unequipped with cargo holds Military war ships (with the exception of ships affiliated to the Navy and used to transport oil and cargo) - Tugboats -Research vessels First 5000 tons SDR 7.21 Next 5000 tons SDR 4.14 Next 10000 tons SDR 3.77 Rest of the tonnage SDR 2.63
Tenth	Dry bulk cargo ships : Owners of dry bulk cargo ships that work between Australia / North west Europe or South Africa Mediterranean may get in touch the Suez Canal Authority Planning,Research and Studies Dept., the Economic unit to decide the proper dues in advance. Rebate requests and relevant documents are to be addressed to the longhaul committee which will study the cases and decide according to the applicable rules and regulations.

1- First Southbound convoy
(a) Vessels arriving between 1900 and 2100 hrs can join the first southbound convoy against the payment of a surcharge equal to 3% of the normal transit dues with a maximum of SDR 7000

(b) Vessels arriving after 2100 hrs and up to 2200 hrs can join the first southbound convoy against the payment of a surcharge equal to 5%of the normal transit dues with a maximum of SDR 10500

2- Second Southbound convoy
(a) Vessels arriving between 0300 and 0400 hrs can join the second southbound convoy against the payment of surcharge equal to 3% of the normal transit dues with a maximum of SDR 7000

(b) Vessels arriving after 0400 hrs and up to 0500 hrs can still join the second southbound convoy against the payment of a surcharge equal to5% of the normal transit dues with a maximum of SDR 10500

3- Northbound convoy
3-1 Ships that are allowed to join the tanker group

(a) When arriving between 0100 and 0300 hrs such ships can join the tanker group against the payment of a surcharge equal to 3% of the normal transit dues with a maximum of SDR 7000

(b) When arriving after 0300 hrs and up to 0330 hrs such ships can join the tanker group against the payment of a surcharge equal to 5% of the normal transit dues with a maximum of SDR 10500

3-2 Ships that are allowed to join the ordinary group can do so when arriving after 300 hrs and up to 0330 hrs against the payment of a sur charge equal to 3% of the normal transit dues with a maximum of SDR 7000.

Note: Maximum arrival draft for the vessels entitled to join the 2nd convey from Port Said is 12.80 m.

To Captain of vessel : Note that either north or south bound, ensure sending regular arrival notices 5,3,2 days and 24 hours before arrival to S.C.A. via Ismailia radio ( SUQ ) to our office(Rafimar)

The necessary information for your transit :

Vessel name, former name and nationality
Date of last transit and if there is any changes done to vessel's particulars
Owners/Charters name
Inter. GRT/NRT S.C.N.R.T. S.D.W.T. max. arr. draft L.O.A./breadth.
Vessel intention for transit
E.T.A.
Vessel status and cargo on board
If carrying dangerous cargo on board, state quantity, class and UN number
Whether you have projector on board or need one
Number of mooring boats required

Suez Canal Authority has decided the limit time for arrival to join the north/south bound convoys will be on the basis of passing the following latitudes :

At Port Said:
South of lat. 31� 28.7' N

At Suez :
a- tankers group : north of lat. 29� 42.8' N
b- other vessel : north of lat. 29� 48.33' N

Upon arrival of indicated positions call Port Said pilot station/boat by V.H.F. Ch. 12/16 to report your arrival and anchor time.
Try your best to fill the declaration of double bottom tanks which will be provided by S.C. representatives specially the non used tanks.
Please try to make ullaging of the non used bunker tanks reads 6 inches or less to be considered as an empty tanks, which will be exempted from S.C.N.R.T. also do not sign in blank.

Watch men and garbage services are not compulsory therefore do not accept to sign for same in case are not required on board otherwise sign the actual services used and put sufficient details on the submitted vouchers i.e.number of watchmen used, quantity of garbage (approx.) disposed.
You will be contacted by our ( I.M.S.Egypt ) branch office upon arrival also our representative will attend your vessel in time to cooperate in processing transit formalities and for any assistance you may need.
In case of any clarification or requirements, stores etc., please contact us immediately.