(1)Starts from 0000hrs. to 0500 hrs. and consists of 3 groups of vessels :

(a)Group A: Vessels in Port Said Harbour.

(b)Group B: Vessels anchored in the Northern Anchorage Area consisting of 4^th Generation Containerships, 3 rd Generation Containerships, VLCCs in ballast over 42ft. draft, LPG , LNG and not gas free vessels (LPG,LNG and vessels N.G.F. may join Group (A) in ballast or loaded and LASH over 35,000 SCGT. This group will be headed by the Containerships and the first vessel will enter through Port Said East Approach Channel in due time to join Group A at Km.17.

(c)Group C: Vessels anchored in Southern Anchorage Area will enter through Port Said West Channel in due time to join Group B at Km.17.

(2)This convoy has a free run to the Bitter Lakes, passes through the East Branch of Ballah By-Pass, the East Channel of Lake Timsah, the Deversoir West Channel(except for vessels with draft of more than 42ft. will pass through East Channel ), and anchors in the Western Anchorages in Bitter Lakes.

(3)The sequence of continued route from the Bitter Lakes will be warships, LPG,LNG vessels, the 4 th Generation Containerships and 3 rd Generation Containerships over 40,000 SCGT and lash over 35,000 S.C.G.T followed by VLCCs in ballast and then other vessels. The first ship of the Southbound convoy will regulate speed to cross the last Northbound vessel abeam of Kabrit Station

(C)Southbound Second Convoy(N2)

(1)Starts from 0630 hrs. to 0900 hrs. The forming and depth of this convoy is subject to situation of traffic and limit time.

(2)3 rd and 4 th Generation Container Ships with more than one propeller astern shall be ahead of this convoy to anchor at Timsah Lake (maximum two vessels ).

(3)Vessels will make fast in Ballah West Branch (Maximum capacity 15 vessels according to the number of berths at Ballah Loop), and continue route after the last Northbound vessel clears Km.61.

(4)Dimensions of vessels that can make fast at Ballah West Branch should not exceed those indicated in the following table, excluding tankers over 90,000 SCGT(Subject to alteration according to Canal Developing Projects).

                     Beam                                                   Draft                                           

           (ft.)      (m.)     (cm.)                                (ft.)           (in.)     

            135        41        15                                    42              -

          136        41        45                                    41              8

          137        41        76                                    41              5                

          138        42        06                                    41              1

          139        42        37                                    40              9 

          140        42        67                                     40             6 

           141        42        98                                     40             3    

          142        43        28                                     39            11

          143        43        59                                     39             8

          144        43        89                                     39             5 

          145        44        20                                     39             1          

          146        44        50                                     38             10 

          147        44        80                                     38             7

          148        45        11                                     38             4

(5)Vessels not allowed to join this convoy are the following :

1. Loaded Tankers (or Bulk Carriers) carrying Petroleum Grade A or similar substances (flash point below 23¥C or 73¥F, ascertained by an open test or of any equal degree of accuracy).
2. Liquified inflammable gas vessels (LPG,LNG or similar loaded or ballast N.G.F. vessels.
3. Vessels not fitted with double bottoms carrying chemicals in bulk.
4. Vessels carrying uncontainerised radioactive substance Group 1.
5. Vessels carrying dangerous wastes.
6. Heavy lifters (semi-submersible) carrying heavy lift units with tonnage exceeding the lifting capacity of their individual cranes.
7. Vessels carrying deck cargo protruding more than what is stated in Article 26 of these Rules.
8. Vessels over 90,000 SCGT.
9. Navy ships.

Article 50: Limit Time of Arrival to Join Convoys
(Summertime may be kept)

(A)Southbound Convoy
(1)4 th Generation Containerships, 3 rd Generation Containerships, VLCCs in ballast and loaded vessels over 42ft. draft who will anchor in the New Anchorage

Area (V berths) N.W. of Port Said and declared by Agents ready for transit, have to reach the Anchorage Area within the limit time of 1900 hrs (Ships arriving from

1900 hrs. to 2100 hrs. may join the first Southbound Convoy (N1) against an additional charge of 5% of transit dues. Ships arriving after 2100 hrs. until 2200 hrs. can also join the first Southbound Convoy (N1) against an additional charge of 10% of transit tolls).

(2)Other ships entering from Port Said harbour have to reach the Anchorage Area (C Berths) within the limit time of 1900 hrs.

(3)Ships arriving after the limit time of 1900 hrs. and not later than 0300 hrs.(Ships arriving from 0300 hrs. to 0400 hrs. may join the second Southbound Convoy (N2) against an additional charge of 5% of transit dues. Ships arriving after 0400 hrs. until 0500 hrs. can join the second Southbound Convoy (N2) against an additional charge of 10% of transit tolls), will join the second Southbound Convoy either from Port or direct from sea and be declared by Agents ready for transit , providing the capacity of the Canal permits(See Article 49(C)).

(B)Northbound Convoy

(1)Ships anchoring South of Conry Rock : 4 th Generation Container Ships, 3 rd Generation Container Ships, VLCCs , super tankers, heavy bulk carries, LASH vessels over 35,000 S.C.G.T., LPG and LNG (Loaded or not gas free) and vessels over 38ft.draft, have to reach the Anchorage Area(V Berths ) and be declared by Agents ready for transit within the limit time of 0100 hrs.(Ships arriving from 0100 hrs. to 0300 hrs. may join Tanker Group against additional charge of 5% of transit dues. Ships arriving after 0300 hrs. but before 0330 hrs. can also join Tanker Group against additional charge of 10% of transit dues).

(2)Other vessels who will anchor North of Conry Rock have to reach the Waiting Area and be declared by Agents ready for transit within limit time of 0300 hrs(Ships entitled to join the ordinary group, can arrive after 0300 hrs . up until 0330 hrs. against an additional charge of 5% of transit dues.

(C) In all cases, the documents required should be produced before the passage of the vessel to the Canal Office at Port Said or Port of Suez .

Suez Canal Authority, Circular No.13/95 :Issued by the Director of Transit , on 20/12/1995 by which Circular No.3/94 is to be cancelled and replaced by the following:

In favourable navigational conditions, the limit time for arrivals from North and South is to be extended as shown below:

(1)First Southbound Convoy: N1

(a)Vessels arriving between 1900 hrs. 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 7,000.

 (b)Vessels arriving after 2100 hrs. and up to 2200 hrs. can join the first Southbound Convey against the payment of a surcharge equal to 5% of the normal transit dues, with a maximum of SDR 10,500 .

(2)Second Southbound Convoy: N2

 (a)Vessels arriving between 0300 hrs. and 0400 hrs. can join the Second Southbound Convoy against the payment of a surcharge equal to 3% of the normal transit dues, with a maximum of SDR 7,000 .

(b) Vessels arriving between 0400 hrs. and 0500 hrs. can still join the Second Southbound Convoy against the payment of a surcharge equal to 5% of the normal transit dues, with a maximum of SDR 10,500 .

(3)Northbound Convoy:

1.Ships that are allowed to join the tanker group:

(a)When arriving between 0100 hrs. 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 7,000.

(b)When arriving after 0300 hrs. and up to 0330 hrs. such ships can still join the tanker group against the payment of a surcharge equal to 5% of the normal transit dues with a maximum of SDR 10,500.

2.Ships that are allowed to join the ordinary group can do so when arriving after 0300 hrs. and up to 0330 hrs. against the payment of a surcharge equal to 3% of the normal transit dues, with a maximum of SDR 7,000.

This Circular takes effect as of 1^st January 1996.

Article 51: Courses to keep on Leaving for Sea

(A)At Port Said
Vessels of Northbound convoy have to maintain course through the East Approach Channel till Hm.195 then alter course North (000¥) for five miles before altering to destination.

(B)At Port of Suez
Vessels proceeding to sea have to maintain course through the channel till the last pairs of buoys, then keep the Separation Zone on the port side till the Separation Zone Buoy No.1.

Article 52: Dimensions of Vessels Authorised to Transit

These dimensions are given hereunder:( For drilling and towed units-See Appendix).

(a)Max. length: No restrictions.

(b)Max. beam: 245ft.

Note: (1)Vessels with beam over 210ft. are allowed to transit in calm weather, i.e. beam wind not exceeding 10 knots.

(2)Vessels with beam over 245ft.may transit Canal under special request.

(c)Max. draft: Table I for Vessels in Ballast in either direction
    Table II for loaded Vessels in Ballast in either direction
    Table I can be provided upon request

Table  I

                              Draft for Vessels in Ballast Transiting    

                              North or Southbound (See "Notes")               

                                Beam                                          Maximum Draft

                         Up to                     Forward                         Aft

                        245ft                          32ft                          36ft

                       (74.67 m.)                  (9.75 m.)                    (11.00 m.)

                       Over 210ft.      
                     (Over 64.0 m.)

Notes: (1)Vessels of a beam over 210ft. transit the Canal in a beam wind not
              exceeding 10knots

          (2)Vessels of a beam over 245ft. may be allowed to transit the
              Canal under special request

Article 54: Speed

Station                                                  Group                   Vessels

Port Tewfik- Genefa, head current          11 km./hr.             13 km./hr.

 Port Tewfik-Genefa , stern current         14 km./hr.             15 km./hr.

Genefa-Kabret                                     14 km./hr              15 km./hr.

Kabret- Deversoir                                 15 km./hr              16 km./

Deversoir- Port Said                             14 km./hr              15 km./hr.