SCA Circular No. 8/1996

The Suez Canal Authority has decided to modify Art. 58 Rules of Navigation as stated hereunder:

First
Escorting the ships transiting the Suez Canal is effectuated according to the Suez Canal net tonnage and not the summer dead weight.
The Article will read as follows:

Art 58 - Escorting:
The escort of VLCC’s , ULCC’s, LNG’S, LPG’s, large Bulk Carriers and other vessels (1) will be as follows:

  1. Loaded vessels less than 70,000 Suez Canal net tonnage will be escorted by one tug if for technical reasons SCA find it necessary or when the vessels draught is more than 47 feet.
  2. Loaded vessels from 70,000 Suez Canal net tonnage to 90,000 tons will be escorted by one tug.
  3. Loaded vessels over 90,000 Suez Canal net tonnage will be escorted by two tugs.
  4. Vessels in ballast over 130,000 Suez Canal net tonnage will be escorted by one tug.
  5. LPG and LNG over 25,000 Suez Canal net tonnage (except GF) (1) will be escorted by one tug (2).
  6. Vessels in ballast with beam over 218 ft up to 233 ft will be escorting by one tug.
  7. Vessels in ballast with beam over 233 ft will be escorted by two tugs.
  8. Towed scrapped vessels in ballast 80,000 Suez Canal net tonnage and over will be escorted by one tug.

Second
The Suez Canal net tonnage is assessed regardless of sizes that are temporarily added in each transit (such as double bottom tanks or containers on deck etc.)

Third
This circular takes effect as of 1/1/1997.