UPDATED: En route at slower pace: The effects of unrest in Egypt on port and Suez Canal operations

03 Feb 2011 - By Ashraf Ghazy, Port of Damietta, Egypt. - Industry Blog

UPDATE [04/02/2011]: SCA Admiral Fadel said tonight 47 vessels have transited the canal in both directions North and South with an overall tonnage of 2,897,000 tons.

DPW also announced today that its operations in Sokhna are resumed after a short stoppage. DPW-Sokhna is thus the first port in Egypt to work to full staff capacity including all foreigners amid the turbulent events.
 

Suez Canal
Suez Canal Authority (SCA) officials confirmed February 1st that regular traffic operations are going on intact despite the recent incidents that hit Cairo and a number of towns bordering Suez Canal such as Suez, Port-Said and Ismailia. Officials went on saying that traffic is absolutely normal and the Army is holding a firm grip on the situation.

Egyptian TV denied allegations that SC workers have gone on strike Tuesday to join the so-called "One Million March."

Throughout last 10 days internet lines were completely cut off everywhere in the country. Shipping Companies found it difficult to coordinate their transiting schedules with SC officials. No cancellation requests were recorded however.

The curfew which runs from 3pm to 8am has considerably curbed SC service crews' ability to handle vessels and tankers as before. The outcome is transiting behind schedule.

National Ports
So far no figures are available to tell exactly how port operations felt the sting of the tragic incidents, which entered its ninth day today. But generally Damietta Port just like other national ports, handling less than the capacity of traffic usually witnessed this time of year.

Female Damietta Port Authority (DPA) employees were asked to stay at home until further notification and working time for male employees is scaled down from 8am-3pm to 8am-1pm.

Shipping Companies' Reaction
Shipping companies are apprehensive that their own vessels may experience delay in transiting the Canal together with possible disruption of operations and higher insurance charges.

Dubai Ports World (DPW) reacted to the incidents by halting its operations in Egypt as "a protective measure" to safeguard workers and employees whose safety is the company's top priority.

AP-Moller-Maersk has also stopped operations destined to Egyptian container ports and shut down its shipping offices in Egypt claiming that recent developments negatively impacted AP operational and commercial activities.

The South Korean Shipping Company Hanjin has changed course of its tankers since the turmoil broke out last week. Company CEO Yung Min Kim told Reuters via email that Hanjin operations were adversely impacted by the incidents in Egypt and that Port-Said and Alexandria ports are either working partially or not operating at all. The email message also indicated that several port employees are frequently absent and IT systems break down repeatedly.

The tragic incidents started January 25th when tens of thousands of demonstrators took to Tahrir (Liberation) Square to ask President Mubarak to step down presidency after a long 30 years of poverty, joblessness and social sufferings.

Several demonstrators marched in similar protests in many provinces including Damietta. Clashes with Police Forces ended up with almost all Police Centers set ablaze and hundreds of civilians slain.

Tomorrow Friday Feb 4th could be a decisive day in Egypt's history.

Ashraf Ghazy
Damietta, Egypt
February 3rd 2011.