Suez Canal: New Mooring Regulations Effective May 1st, 2024

Shore-based Mooring Service

According to Circular No.1-2024, effective May 1st, 2024, mooring service will be shore-based service, with mooring boats distributed along the canal. Only 30% of ships in the convoy will be permitted to have onboard mooring service. SCA will decide which ships to have the onboard service based on the following criteria:

• Ships with the largest wind-age area
• Ships with the largest gross tonnage (GT)
• Ships with the largest draft
• Inter-ship distances not exceeding two ships
• Other vessels as decided by SCA

If one of the selected ships refuses or is unable to have the mooring service onboard, additional dues of USD 5000 will be charged, instead of imposing the stipulated in Article 20, page 36, of the SC rules of navigation. 

The following types of vessels shall be excluded from the above shore-based mooring service:

• US warships will be escorted by a mandatory tugboat for mooring service according to the protocol signed with SCA.
• Other warships will be escorted by imposed tugboats if they refuse or unable to have the service onboard.
• Towed units, excavators, rig, integrated units, and units of a special nature will have mooring service on board or escorted by imposed tugs if unable to have the service on board, as per current rules of navigation December 2020.

New Tariff Structure

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

• Any ship whether having onboard or shore-based service will pay a fixed total amount of US 3500 for mooring and lighting services in the new system, with an annual financial assessment in case there is a need for amendments (as a special arrangement for ships).
• In case the ship requests to be supplied with lighting service or if the searchlight does not comply with the SC rules of navigation (searchlight + electrician), an additional USD 1000 will be added to the previous tariff in item (1) for lighting services, making the total amount USD 4500 , including mooring and lighting services.
• If the electric connections don’t comply with SC rules of navigation, the vessel will be charged with additional dues USD 5000 from the second transit as stipulated in SC rules of navigation December 2020 edition.

For further information or inquiries, please contact our Suez Canal rebate desk team.