SUEZ

Five miles before arrival to the first separation Zone buoy, all vessels coming from sea should contact the Suez Canal Harbour Office by V.H.F. (channel 16), if not able to, by R/T (2181 kHz) or by W/T, or by R. Telex and Inmarsat via Suez Canal Marine Communication Center SUQ for instruction

A - Separation Zone

A separation zone has been established, extending 0.3 mile on each side of the line connecting the two separation buoys mentioned hereafter.

All vessels arriving or leaving have to pass the separation zone Buoys on their Port side.

The separation zone buoys are:

Separation zone buoy No. 1 (southern buoy): Height 6 meters, R. W. Color with top mark Red ball and a fog horn. Showing Fl 10s and fitted with 5 miles Racon. (O). (3.10 Cm).

Separation zone buoy No. 2 (northern buoy): Height 6 meters, R. W. Top mark Red ball, showing Iso 6s with 5 miles Racon horn (D) (3.10 cm).

B - Anchorage areas:

The incoming vessels have two anchorage areas:

(1) "V" Area:

For Very Large Crude Carriers, 4th Generation Containerships, 3rd Generation Containerships, Lash Ships over 35000 Suez Canal Gross Tonnage. vessels over 38 feet draught, Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas vessels (Loaded or None Gas Free) this area is indicated by:

a) The Conry Rock Buoy: Height 5 meters, West Mark showing Q(9) 15s.

b) South Shoal buoy: Black, cone point up, showing Gr. Isophase (2 sec On - 2 sec OFF).

Berths of this area are called "V". Center of circle (Radius 833 meters).

(2) Waiting area: For others vessels, this area limited by the following buoys:

a) Conry Rock: Height 5 meters, Y.B.Y. West Mark showing Q(9) 15s.

b) Buoy M: Height 5 meters, yellow cross and showing F.Y.

c) Buoy N: Height 5 meters, yellow cross and showing Qk. F.Y.

d) Buoy D: Height 5 meters, yellow cross and showing F.Y.

e) Buoy C: Height 5 meters, yellow cross and showing Fl. Y.

f) Buoy B: Height 5 meters, yellow cross and showing F.Y.

g) Buoy A: Height 5 meters, yellow cross and showing F.Y.

C - Anchorage area for tans-shipment operations "S,T,S."

Area (A) and Area (B)

D - Arrival to Suez for northbound vessels

Vessels coming from sea to transit the Suez Canal or enter the Port of Suez, have to pass east of the separation zone. Very Large Crude Carriers, 4th Generation containerships, 3rd Generation containerships and vessels over 38 feet draught have to anchor in the anchorage area specified for these vessels ("V" Berths) in the berth allocated to each vessel by the Suez Canal Authority. Other vessels have to pass east of the separation zone and anchor in the waiting area as previously indicated.

E - Prohibited area for anchorage

It is strictly forbidden for all Northbound vessels to anchor in the area limited as follows:

1) In the north: two buoys marking the dredged channel position.

2) In the west: by the line joining the west buoy and position (P).

3) In the east: by the line joining the east buoy and position (R).

4) In the south: by the line joining the position (P) and position (R).

F - Suez Entrance channel

This channel is used for vessels entering or leaving Suez Canal and also by those entering Port of Suez and using its anchorage. This channel is buoyed as follows:

(1) A pair of light buoys at Hm. 80.5 "Entrance buoys"

a) The eastern buoy: height 5 meters, Green, cone point up and showing oc. Green 4 sec.

b) The western buoy: height 5 meters, Red, can daymark and shoeing oc. Red 4 sec.

The distance between the eastern and western buoys is 340 meters.

(2) Proceeding northward, the channel is marked on both sides by light buoys, of 5 meters height.

a) On the eastern side of the channel: the buoys are green, cone point up and shoeing Fl. Gr.

b) On the western side: the buoys are red, can daymark, and shoeing Fl. Red.

Course: from the entrance buoys, till the green light buoy

Northbound course is 352.5 degree.

Southbound course is 172.5 degree.

G - Canal south entrance

The Canal south entrance is marked by two light buoys of 7 meters height:

(1) The eastern buoy at Km. 162.150: is green, cone point up and showing occ. Green light (1) every 4 sec.

(2) The western buoy at Hm. 1.00: Red, can daymark and showing occ. Red light (1) every 4 sec.

H - Port of Suez

(1) Navigation:

a) General rules:

* All vessels shall conform the the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea.

* Navigation in the port is limited to approved channels only.

* Crossing or overtaking at the channels is strictly forbidden.

* Vessels must proceed in the port with caution and at a reduced speed.

* Vessels must not let go their anchors except in the anchorage areas.

b) Traffic regulations:

* Vessels entering or leaving the port: for vessels entering the port from sea and vessels leaving the port for sea, all movement shall be effected through the western channel, except for vessels anchored in 1C to 5C which should use the eastern channel.

* Vessels entering the canal: from the port and from zone north west. of green island, they must comply to the following:

Anchorages 8C to 16C and anchorage groups A and B: vessels shall pass through the western channel, then south of green island to join the eastern channel and then proceed to the entrance of the canal.

From zone north east of green island: anchorage 1C to 7C, vessels shall proceed directly form their anchorages to the entrance of the canal. If the number of vessels exceeds the number of anchorages, vessels in excess shall anchor south of the western channel, parallel to anchorages 2A, 4A, 6A, 4B, 7B, making sure to leave the western channel clear for navigation at all times.

From zone south of green island: anchorages 1D to 6D, vessel shall proceed directly form the anchorages to the canal or to sea through the eastern channel.

* Vessels leaving the canal:

Direct to sea: They shall proceed through the eastern channel.

Anchoring in the port: Anchorages groups A & B Zone N. W. of green island 8C to 16C, they shall proceed through the eastern channel, then the western channel and shall follow it till the place fixed for their anchorage.

Zone N.E. of green island from 1C to 7C: vessels shall come out of the canal and proceed directly to this area.

C) Priority of movement at the port: priority of movement in the port shall be as follows:

* Vessels leaving the canal.

* Vessels proceeding to the canal.

* Vessels coming from sea must wait outside the port till the eastern channel is clear.

* Vessels leaving the anchorages of the Port of Suez.

* Vessels coming out of the basins (Ibrahim basin - Adabeya - petroleum basin).

* Vessels using the new petroleum jetty.

d) Priority of passage in the eastern channel:

* Vessels leaving the canal.

* Vessels in anchorages of Port of Suez, and proceeding southward to sea, have to pass through the eastern channel. Ships approaching Port of Suez From sea should wait outside until the channel is clear.

e) When harbour is closed due to bad weather:

* Vessels coming from sea: It is recommended not to enter the Port of Suez when it is closed due to bad weather which prevents the pilots for boarding the vessels.

However, any vessel which would like to enter on her own responsibility will have to contact the Suez Canal Authority wireless station (SUQ) and ask permission for doing so, giving her draught and length in feet, by the following cable:

"I wish to enter Suez Anchorage on my own responsibility.Length... Draught... Feet".

If permission is granted, the master will receive the following cable.

"Port is closed. Entering on your own responsibly. Available anchorage....".

* Vessels leaving the Suez Canal: In case when the embarkation of the roads pilot is not possible, the following cable will be sent to the ship:

"Owing to bad weather roads pilot will not board your ship".

The following will be added in case the vessel would ask for an anchorage:

"Available anchorage...".

* Vessels anchored in the Port of Suez leaving for sea: Vessel which would like to sail on their responsibility, will have to hoist the signal for pilot, send the following cable to (SUQ) and wait for orders.

"I wish to go to sea on my own responsibility. Please confirm".

They may proceed if they receive the cable:

"You may proceed to sea on your own responsibility".