Passing Through the Suez Canal: Basic Procedures 过苏伊士运河：基本流程

Opened to navigation in 1869, the Suez Canal (30.5°N, 32°E) is a sea-level waterway that cuts through the Suez Isthmus in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. It provides the shortest maritime route from Europe to the lands around the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of the world's most frequently used shipping lanes. It also forms the border between Asia and Africa and is a main channel for communication between people of Asia and Africa. The canal runs north from Port Said to the city of Suez in the south, spanning 190 kilometers，connecting to the Mediterranean Sea from the north of Port Said. Based on the experience of multiple captains, this document summarizes the basic procedures for transiting the Suez Canal, hoping to be of assistance.

苏伊士运河(30.5°N,32°E)1869年修筑通航，是一条海平面的水道，在埃及贯通苏伊士地峡，连接地中海与红海，提供从欧洲至印度洋和西太平洋附近土地的最近的航线。它是世界使用最频繁的航线之一。也是亚洲与非洲的交界线，是亚洲与非洲人民来往的主要通道。运河北起塞得港南至苏伊士城，长190千米，在塞得港北面掘道入地中海至苏伊士的南面。本文结合多位船长经验，总结了过苏伊士运河的基本流程，希望能帮助到各位。

Specific Transit Procedures

过河的具体流程

Transit Booking: Notify the Suez Canal Authority by message in stages before the scheduled transit to confirm the transit date. Any cancellation or date change must be communicated to the Canal Authority at least 24 hours before the booked date, failing which a direct fine will be imposed. Without prior notification, the vessel will only be included in a subsequent convoy, potentially leading to additional waiting time.

过河预订：在通过运河前的 7、5、3、2、1天，分阶段给运河局发报，确认过河日期。要取消或改期，必须在预订日期前 至少24小时 通知运河当局，超期不通知直接罚款。没提前报备的话只能编入随后的编队，可能要额外等待。

Arrival and Contact: When northbound and 5-10 nautical miles from No. 1 Buoy of the Separation Zone, call "Suez port control" on VHF Channel 14. When southbound and within 15 nautical miles of the Port Said entrance buoy, call “Port said port control” on VHF Channel 12. The standard vessel report should include: “Vessel name, position, call sign, Suez Canal registration number, Suez Canal Gross Tonnage, draft.” For a vessel transiting for the first time, additionally report: “Date of build, Suez Canal Tonnage Certificate, length overall, breadth extreme, type of main engine, whether calling at a port within, any defects affecting navigational safety.”

到达联系：北上距分隔带1号浮标5-10海里时用 VHF14频道 呼叫“Suez port control”；南下抵塞得港进口浮标前15海里时，用 VHF12频道 呼叫“Port said port control”。常规船舶报告内容为“船名、位置、呼号、运河登记号、苏伊士运河总吨位、吃水”；首次过河船舶需要额外报“建造日期、苏伊士运河吨位证书、总长、总宽、主机类型、是否港内停留、有无影响航行安全的缺陷”；

Pilotage and Maneuvering: On the confirmed transit day, tune VHF to Channel 13 and ensure to listen before 2100 for the **information broadcast by the Canal Authority: convoy sequence number, pilot boarding time, and the side for adjusting the gangway. Do not miss this to avoid joining the wrong queue. Pilots are changed four times throughout the transit. Pilots control the vessel's position and distance using heading and speed. Strengthen steering and steering gear management.

引水及操纵：确定过河日期当天，VHF调至13频道，2100前务必收听运河当局发布的信息：过河编队序号、引水员登船时间、调整舷梯的舷别，别错过导致排错队；全程4次换引水，引水员靠航向、速度把控船位和船距，要加强操舵和舵机管理；

Required Certificates: Suez Canal Tonnage Certificate; Certificate of Registry (or Nationality); Certificate of Class; Actual Stowage Dangerous Goods Certificate; Crew and Passenger List; other documents as required by the Canal Authority.

应备证书：苏伊士运河吨位证书；船舶国籍证书；船籍证书；实装危险品证书；人员名单；其他运河当局要求的资料；

Mooring Boats: One or two mooring boats are required to accompany the vessel. They should be hoisted on the ship's side using a crane or placed on deck, ready for emergency mooring to the bank.

带缆艇：需1-2艘带缆艇随船，用吊车吊在船舷或放甲板，以备意外靠岸带缆。

Mooring Lines: Prepare 6-8 mooring lines. They must be flexible, of sufficient length, able to float on the water surface, of appropriate size, and in good condition. Each line must have a spliced eye. Tie a 2-3 meter long manila rope to the end of each mooring line for use when securing to or releasing from mooring buoys. Typically, prepare 3 lines at both the forward and aft ends for mooring to a buoy (2 single lines + 1 slip line). Do not bring too few, which could lead to unstable mooring.

系缆绳：准备 6-8 根 缆绳，需有韧性、长度足够、能浮出水面、尺寸合适且状态良好，每根都要有插接眼环；每根缆绳头上扎2-3米长的白棕绳，系水鼓、解缆时用；一般系水鼓前后各备3根缆（2根单系+1根回头缆），别少带导致系泊不稳。

Searchlight: Canal Authority regulations require a “specially specified canal light” to be installed at the foremost part of the ship. It primarily illuminates sideways to help pilots and navigating officers see navigational marks and the shoreline clearly, ensuring the vessel remains in the center of the channel.

探照灯：运河当局规定，船最前方必须装“专门规格的运河灯”，主要向两侧照射，方便引水员和驾驶人员看清航标、岸形，保证船在航道中间。

Hospitality During Transit: Pilots are changed 4 to 6 times throughout the transit. Arrange appropriate food and accommodation, and beverages and gifts may be provided. Respect their customs.

过河招待：全程换4-6名引水员，安排好食宿，可提供饮料及礼品，要尊重他们的习俗。

Other Notes: Around Port Said and outside Suez Port, a large number of small boats may circle the vessel, and some may even come alongside or board without permission (often for small trade). Issue timely warnings and制止 (prevent/stop) such activities.

其他注意：塞得港内、苏伊士港外可能会有大量小艇绕舰，甚至未经许可靠帮上人（多是做小买卖），要及时警告、制止。

Other Matters

其它事项

Environmental Protection Note: It is strictly forbidden to dump any garbage or food waste within the canal. Strengthen the management of oily waste to prevent leaks. Violations may result in heavy fines.

注意环保：运河内严禁倾倒任何垃圾、食品废弃物，加强污油管理，防止泄露，违规可能面临高额罚款。

Signal Flags: During the day, when requesting a pilot, hoist one black ball above flag "G". After the pilot boards, change to flag "H". Hoist flag "Q" when applying for quarantine upon arrival at a port, and lower it after pratique is granted. For merchant ships carrying dangerous goods, hoist flag "B" and display one red light at night. At night, when the pilot is on board, display white over red lights. Before the pilot boards at night, display three vertical white lights, and turn them off after the pilot boards.

信号悬挂：白天申请引水上挂一个黑球，下挂"G"旗；引水登船后改挂"H"旗；到港申请检疫时挂"Q"旗，检疫通过后降下该旗；对于商船，当有危险品在船时要挂"B"旗，夜间开一个红灯；夜晚的时候引水员在船上，上白下红，晚上引水上来前显示垂直三个白灯，上船后关闭。

Pre-transit Reminder

过河前提醒

These rules may seem tedious—don't be late for booking, don't use the wrong VHF channel, don't offend customs. But as experienced captains often say, "Transit the canal a hundred times, keep the rules in mind." Follow the steps one by one to minimize delays, avoid fines, and ensure a smooth passage! To address the various challenges in transiting the Suez Canal, E-PORTS provides comprehensive professional support and transit services for vessels. For more information about Suez Canal transit solutions or other services, please contact us via:

这些规则看着繁琐，预订别超时、频道别用错、习俗别冒犯。但老船长常说"运河过百遍，规矩记心间"，一步步来，才能少耽误、不罚款，顺畅通关！针对过苏伊士运河中的各项挑战，E-PORTS为过苏伊士运河的船舶提供全方位专业支持与过河服务。若需要了解更多关于苏伊士过河方案或其它服务，可通过以下方式联系：

WhatsApp/Wechat: 13816101982

Email：contact@e-ports.com