Suez Canal issues new mooring vessel regulations

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has issued new restrictions and charges for mooring vessels, mooring services and lights during vessel passage through the canal.

Starting 1 May 2024, the mooring service will be shore-based, with vessels dispersed around the canal.

According to Inchcape Shipping Service (ISS), only 30 per cent of the ships in the convoy will have the mooring service onboard.

SCA will choose which ships will receive onboard service based on their wind-age area, Gross Tonnage (GT), draft, inter-ship distances of no more than two ships and other criteria established by SCA.

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In case any of the chosen vessels decline or are incapable of receiving the mooring service on their deck, a supplementary fee of $5,000 will be imposed instead of providing a tugboat, as mentioned in Article 20 on page 36 of the SC Rules of Navigation.

ISS noted that the following types of vessels will be barred from using the aforementioned shore-based mooring service: US warships, other warships, towing units, excavators, rigs, integrated units, and special-purpose units.

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The new tariff for providing mooring and lighting services in the new system will be as follows:

• Any ship, whether aboard or shore-based, will pay a set sum of $3,500 for mooring and lighting services under the new system, with an annual financial review in case adjustments are required (as a specific agreement for ships).

• If the ship requests lighting service or the searchlight does not comply with the SC Rules of Navigation (searchlight + electrician), an additional $1,000 will be added to the previous tariff in item for lighting services, bringing the total amount to $4,500, which includes mooring and lighting services.

• If the vessel’s electric connections do not comply with SC Rules of Navigation, the ship will be subject to additional dues of $5,000 starting from the second transit, as stipulated in the December 2020 edition of SC Rules of Navigation.

In February, Rebecca Galanopoulos-Jones, Senior Content Analyst at Veson Nautical, reflected on Veson Nautical’s latest data report which indicates a notable shift in traffic patterns amidst the escalating conflict in Yemen and the Red Sea.