4. The Characteristics of the Suez Canal
( 1869 – 2012)
Description 1869 2012
Overall Length km 164 193.3
Doubled Parts km 0 80.5
Depth m 7.5 24
Cross Sectional Area m2 304 5200
Max. Draft feet 22 66
Max. tonnage 103 tons 5 240
5. Double parts of the Canal
Port Said by-bass Ballah by-bass
1 2
It’s Length 40.1 KM It’s Length 8.9 KM
Acc. In 1980 Acc. In 1955
Deversoir & Bitter Lakes by-passes
Temsah by-pass
3 4
It’s Length 4.3 KM The Length 27.2 KM
Acc. In 1980 Acc. In 1980
6. The Present Canal dimensions
can accommodate fully loaded
100 % of Container fleet 95.4 % of the bulk fleet
100 % of other types 64.2 % of the tanker fleet
10. The Main Advantages of the Suez Canal
Longest Canal in the world without locks.
Navigation goes day and night.
Liable to be widened and deepened when
required to cope with the expansion in ship
sizes of the world fleet .
The VTMS system is securing the highest
standards of safety to the vessels transiting
the Canal.
12. Traffic System
The navigation is run in a convoy system .
Ships transit the Canal in three convoys daily :
1- From Port Said at 0000 hrs going south.
2- From Port Tawfiqe at 0600 hrs going north.
3- From Port Said at 0630 hrs going south.
Permissible speed for loaded tankers 13 Km/hr.
Permissible speed for other ships 14 Km/hr.
Average transit time from 12 to 16 hrs
N2
S1
N1
14. Ship Type distribution in the Canal (2012)
( Number)
Tankers
21%
LNG ships
5%
Bulk C.
17%
Container
37%
Other
4%
Car+R0
8%
G.Cargo
8%
15. Daily average number of transits
against Suez Canal capacity
Capacity 98 ships
Capacity 88 ships
Capacity 78 ships under the current transit system
Daily Average
fully effective use of the By-Passes and
through the change of the convoy system.
17. Ship Type distribution in the Canal (2012)
( SCNT)
Tankers
15%
LNG
Bulk Carr. 9%
11%
Container
55%
Car/Ro
7%
Others
1%
G. Cargo
2%
18. The Importance of the Suez Canal
The geographical position of the Suez Canal
makes it the shortest route between East & west
as compared with the Cape of Good Hope.
The Canal route achieves a saving in distance
between the ports East & West the Canal, the
matter that is translated into saving in time, fuel
consumption and ship operating costs .
About 10% of the world seaborne trade passes
through the Suez Canal.
19. Saving in distance achieved by the Canal
compared To Cape of God Hope
From To
Nautical miles Saving
SC Cape
Saving
by miles
% saving
Ras Tanura Constanza 4144 12094 7950 66%
Lavera 4684 10783 6099 57%
Rotterdam 6436 11169 4733 42%
New
orleans
9645 12299 2654 22%
Jeddah Piraeus 1320 11207 9887 88%
Rotterdam 6337 10743 4406 41%
Tokyo Rotterdam 11192 14507 3315 23%
Singapore Rotterdam 8288 11755 3647 29%
20. Via the Canal
6436 n.m
Rotterdam
Ras Tanura
Via the Cape
11169 n.m
Saving in distance via the Canal
From Ras Tanura to Rotterdam (4733 n.m: 42%)
21. Development of the Suez Canal
1- Navigational Channel
2- Equipment and Machinery
3-Safety of the Traffic and Navigational
Support
4-Development of Pricing Policies
23. Development of the Navigational Channel
A . From the year 1869 till the present
Description Unit 1869 1956 1962 1981 1994 1996 2001 2012
Overall Length km 164 175 175 189.8 189.8 189.8 191.8 193.3
Doubled Parts km - 27.7 27.7 77 77 77 79 80.5
Depth m 8 14 15.5 19.5 20.5 21 22.5 24
Cross
Sectional Area
m2 304 1200 1800 3600 4000 4300 4800 5200
Max. Draft feet 22 35 38 53 56 58 62 66
Max. tonnage
1000
tons
5 30 60 150 170 185 210 240
24. B. Future Development
Suez Canal Authority has completed its planned phase to
increase the Canal permissible draft to 66 ft at January 2010.
Suez Canal authority is running now a project to increase the
depth of western channels of the Suez Canal from 48ft to 52 ft.
This project will allow giant containerships heading south to
pass through these channels and reduce its total transit time.
Another project is to improve and widening of anchorage
areas in Great Bitter lake and constructing emergency garage
at the tips of western channels to be used by giant ships.
These projects are executed by the Suez Canal fleet of
dredgers.
25. Suez Canal Authority is conducting feasibility studies to
improve services offered to its customers and to attract more
ships. These studies include:
Increase the depth of current bypasses, dredging new
bypasses to increase the doubled parts of Suez Canal to
increase the capacity of Suez Canal and reduce transit time.
Different scenarios for future plans either by increasing the
allowed draft of ships or doubling Suez Canal are being
studied to evaluate the feasibility of these projects.
34. Targets achieved by the System :
Increasing the standards of safety of vessels transiting the
canal through a radar net work covering all the canal.
Radar surveillance covering an area of 30 Km at port-Said
and Port Tawfik, and that gives an automatic
announcement of arrival time of all vessels getting into the
waiting area.
Monitoring all the vessels transiting the canal to calculate
average speed, separation distance, passing time at signal
stations and to plot the real transit pattern.
Participating in environment protection by decreasing the
number of accidents in the Canal and dealing with them in
the proper way in case they occur.
36. Main Center's Objectives
Training of S.C.A Pilots on the main maneuvers for
transiting the canal safely.
Training the pilots in order to be able to control the vessel
on different weather conditions.
Analyzing any accident in the canal.
Studying the expected behavior of special types of ships
before their first transit.
Updating the technical information of the pilots to the
latest technology in the field of pilotage.
37. C. Suez Canal Research Center
Suez Canal Authority Research Center is
one of the Egyptian institutions specialized
in conducting research and technical
studies in the fields of design and
development of navigation canals, port and
harbor engineering, shore protections , and
marine structures .
38. The research center consists of five Sections :
1. Canal and safety of navigation research section
2. Harbor and coastal research section .
3. Soil mechanics sections.
4. Testing of materials and quality assurance
section .
5. Maintenance of equipment and instrument
section .
40. 4-Development of Pricing Policies
The philosophy of SC tolls is based on:
Considering the earning capacity of the transiting vessel.
Comparing the ship cost through the SC route with other
alternative routes.
Enlarging the number of potential canal transit beneficiaries
as a step to increase the canal revenues.
Sharing part of the saving achieved by transiting vessel.
Giving due consideration to market condition and economic
variants.
Considering the vessel type and size, loading condition and
cargo type.
Maintaining the application of non-discriminatory measures.
41. Flexible Pricing Policies
The regular dues can attract most of our customers and for the
rest we offer other policies as :
1)- Long Haul Rebate System :
- Reduction to LH vessels that don’t use the SC, as the Canal tolls
exceed the savings that could be achieved when using other routes.
- This reduction had be decided case by case after studying the total
costs for such vessel via SC and the alternative routes.
- Origin / Destination documents are required to release such rebate.
- This policy has been started since 1987.
42. 2)- Tolls Permanent Reductions:
- 20 % on SC tolls for ballast VLCC more than 200 000 DWT from
Gulf of Mexico / Caribbean Sea to Arabian Gulf.
- 35 % on SC tolls for LNG Carriers.
- 50 % on SC tolls for Cruise Vessels and calling on Egyptian ports
at the Red Sea or Med. Sea.
3)- Cargo Incentive Rebate Policy:
Further rebates to LNG Carriers transiting SC as follows:
- 5 % on SC tolls for quantities exceed 1 m Ton up to 3 m Ton.
- 10 % on SC tolls for quantities exceed 3 m Ton up to 5 m Ton.
- 15 % on SC tolls for quantities exceeds 5 m Ton.
43. 4)- Co-operation with SUMED Pipeline :
- SCA allowed super tankers to transit SC partially loaded after
lightering part of their cargo through SUMED pipeline.
- Accordingly, these tankers are granted a reduction on SC tolls
relevant to the quantity of oil through SC ( $0.63 / Ton oil ).
5)- Time Saving Service:
Reducing the waiting time for vessels that arrive after the convoy
dead-time limit by allowing them to transit against extra charges
as follows:
- 3 % of SC tolls for ships that arrive 2 hrs later with max of SDR 7000
- 5 % of SC tolls for ships that arrive 2-3 hrs later with max of SDR 10500
- 10 % of SC tolls for ships that arrive more than 3 hrs later with max of
SDR 20000
44. Long Haul Rebate System (Circular 4/1998)
In April 1987, SCA adopted flexible marketing policies so as
to encourage vessels to use the Suez Canal and to attract new
customers.
Reduction to Long Haul vessels that don’t use the SC, as the
Canal tolls exceed the savings that could be achieved when
using other routes.
This reduction had been decided case by case after studying
the total costs for such vessel via SC and the alternative
routes.
45. Documents Required:
The original documents need to be received by Suez Canal
Authority not later than six months after transit. Otherwise, the
rebate granted will be cancelled.
Document 1 : Port of Origin
Document 2 : Port of Destination
Document 3 : Port of Bunkering
Document 4 : Owners Certificate
Remarks:
For the above documents, signature and stamp in original by Port
Authority or Customs Office are required.
Bill of lading and cargo manifest is required (if any).
46. Requisitions:
Transit confirmation must be sent before starting the
voyage or at least 48 hours before reaching the deviation
point with the following information:
Vessels particulars:
Name, Type, Last Transit , DWT, S.C. Net Ton, Beam,
Transit Draft, Speed, Bunker consumption and price for
F.O. & D.O.
Voyage details:
Port of Origin/Destination, Nature and Quantity of cargo
loaded if any, Daily chartering rate, Bunkering ports,
Deviation point, Weather conditions at sea.
Voyage Costs:
Detailed calculations of the voyage costs via each route
( Cape /Suez Canal /other route) and the expected tolls
rebate.
47. Rebate Conditions: Normal tolls without any reduction, to
be submitted before transiting. The agreed rebate will be
released upon receiving the required documents.
The calculated rebate is operative for 60 days from the
date of issue. If the transit does not take place within this
period a new application must be made. The SCA will
restudy the case provided that the new application is
received by them before the ship arrives at its deviation
point.
Should the vessel, for any reason, change load or discharge
port from those stated in the original Bill of Lading or
manifest, a revised calculation is to be presented to the
S.C.A. showing the new reduction required. New
documentation is to be presented accordingly
48. Affiliated Companies
Timsah Shipbuilding Co
The company is a specialized firm in shipbuilding, ship
repairs, steel structures, offshore & onshore
contractors, operation and maintenance of all kinds of
auxiliary ships, water desalination plant.
It having two shipyards, one at Ismailia and the other at
Abu-Qir / Alexandria.
Canal Harbor & Great Projects Co.
It is specialized in Marine Works ( construction and repair of
floating equipment , turn key ports, breakwaters, water intakes,
dredging works, towage and salvage works ), and in Civil Works
( earth works, deep foundations, water and fuel tanks, sewage
treatment plants, desalination plant ) and in Quarrying
( dolomite stones up 30 ton, aggregates of different size ).
49. Canal Mooring & Lights Co.
It is one of the pioneer global companies specialized in the
field of mooring and unmooring of vessels transiting Suez Canal
and / or arriving to Egyptian ports.
It provides the transiting vessels with floating units and crew
required for mooring Services and provides the vessels with
light projectors accompanied by specialized electricians.
The company has many different activities such as: Gas
detection, serving towed units and providing necessary crew
upon request, carrying out necessary repairs for transiting
vessels projectors and maintenance for small floating units
either wooden, iron or G.R.P.
Canal Naval Construction Co.
It is in the building, repairing floating unit , ship modifications,
steal & floating construction, petroleum service, medium size
engine repairing ( up to 500 HP ) and ship scraping.
50. Canal Rope Co.
It is since 1963 as the biggest producer in middle east for all
kind of ropes and twines natural or synthetic and woven bags.
It produces manila & sisal ropes, manila & sisal yarn and
twines, synthetic ropes, polyproplene twine, PP woven bags
and PP leno type bags.
Suez Shipyard Co.
Suez Shipyard has been established since about 142 years ago
for ships repair, shipbuilding, steel structure, pipe lines, tanks,
marine services and repair dredging equipment.
The location of Suez shipyard in the south entrance of Suez
Canal , this unique location gives the Suez shipyard great
importance in ship repair market.
51. The Port Said Engineering Works Co.
The company is a specialized firm in repairing ships which
passing the Suez Canal and or navigate near Egypt. It builds a
small motor vessels, tugs and all other marine vessels.
It's works field covers the fabrication and erection of steel
structures, manufacture of offshore installations and heliport
decks for platforms, layout of pipelines with different
diameters, high pressure gas pipes for petroleum refineries
and boilers construction.
It has many workshops in Port Said, Port Tawfik,
Alexandria, 10 th. of Ramadan City and Aswan.
Canal Co. for Nile Shipyard
It is a specialized in shipbuilding, ship repairs of the Nile ships
and the floating units.
It is the first company in the upper Egypt ( Armant – Luxer )
52. The Suez Canal Headquarter
The SCA spares no effort for the sake of ensuring a safe and secure service for
all transiting Vessels; thus contributing to the prosperity of world trade and all
nations as well.
www.suezcanal.gov.eg
eunit@suezcanal.gov.eg longhaul@suezcanal.gov.eg
