• 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

Suez Canal Convoys

Navigation in the Suez Canal is around the clock, Ships transit the Canal in Convoys
There are three convoys daily:
 

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 transit time, 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

    • 2. 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 Uncontainerised Radio Active materials
    • Vessels Carrying Explosives
    • Non-Double Fitted Bottom Vessels Carrying Chemicals in Bulk.

    B) Northbound Convoy
    (from Suez to Port Said)

    Only one Northbound Convoy Consists of Two Groups.
    Timing:
    Commences at 0600 hrs up
    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.

    Suez Canal Required Documents

    Vessels transiting for the First Time

    • 3 copies of Suez Canal Tonnage Certificate
    • 3 copies of General Arrangement plan
    • 3 copies of Capacity plan
    • 3 copies of Engine room plan
    • 3 copies of Registered Tonnage Certificate

    All Vessels Arriving in ballast Should present

    • Suez Canal Special Tonnage Certificate
    • Cargo Manifests
    • Crew List
    • Certificate of registry.
    • General Arrangement Plan
    • Engine room Plan
    • Capacity plan
    • Dangerous Goods Declaration
    • In Ballast Declaration
    • Classification Certificate
    • Normal Certificates as Radio, etc.

    Tankers
    In addition Tankers Should Present:

    • A Copy of Capacity Plan
    • Declaration concerning double bottom tanks and the lower parts of the high tanks.
    • Piping plan and general arrangement plan for LPG/LNG vessels


    In addition Master will fill other Formal Documents to be presented by Agents and Authorities.

    Arrival Notice

    Suez Canal Authority Requires Five Days Arrival Notice of Vessels ETA for Transit.
    Vessel should advise following details (through its Canal Transit 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
    • Type of Cargo or if in Ballast Gas Free or not
    • Dangerous Goods Details
    • Last Port and Next Port
    • No of Tiers on Deck for Container Carriers
    • Any Special Requirements as Crew change, Cash, repairs, etc.

    Communications

    • VHF Working Frequency Range of (156-174 MHz)
    • VHF channels: 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 71, 73, 74
    • Radio telex frequencies from Open Sea to contact Suez Canal Authority: 20000
    • Transmits: 4250
    • Receives: 6310/4205
    • Mode: FIB
    • Watch hours: 24 hrs
    • Radio telex frequencies to contact Suez Canal Authority while transiting: 20001
    • Transmits: 1612
    • Receives: 2147
    • Mode FIB
    • Watch hours: 24 hrs

    Signal Hoists

    On arrival Port Said or Suez, Vessel is required to show the following flags:

    • Pilot Signal
    • Call Letters
    • Quarantine Flag
    • Immigration Signal, Flags, or one red light above two white lights by night
    • Dangerous Goods Signal

    Some Important Rules

    Mooring Boats:
    Vessels Transiting the Canal must have Mooring Boats hired from Mooring Company and Approved by the Suez Canal Authority.

    • This mooring boats must be ready for use without any delay during the transit of the vessel, In case of non availability of mooring, Ships boats could be used, Each boat is to be manned by three men.
    • Ships may ask for additional motorboats or mooring boats according to master's request.
    • Ships must be fitted with lifting appliances capable for lifting mooring boats of 4 tons weight.

    Projectors (Searchlights):

    • Projector are compulsory transit and normally hired from the local company, LPG & LNG tankers should be equipped with own projectors conform to the Suez Canal Authority's rule of Navigation, and that said projector should be gaslight.
    • It is also recommended by the S.C.A. that all vessels having a bulbous also have their own projector fitted on board.

    Pilot:

    The S.C.A.'s regulations state that, it is compulsory to have a pilot onboard for transit for any movement, Failure to comply with this regulation will face heavy fines

    Escort Tugs:

    Vessels facing Accident, groundings, steering, problems, engine troubles etc., whilst transit may use an Escort Tug, imposed by Suez Canal Authority.
    Vessels unable to maintain the minimum transiting speed will be placed at the end of the convoy and/or may use an Escort Tug, as well as extra tools or even miss the convoy.