Suez Canal Transit Fees: Billing Rules for Combination Carriers 苏伊士过河费：组合船的计费规则

The Suez Canal, a critical waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, handles approximately 12% of global maritime trade. Its operational efficiency directly impacts the stability of global supply chains. To accurately grasp the canal fees, it is essential to first gain an in-depth understanding of its unique billing system. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) employs a highly specialized set of billing standards, with the core concept being the "Suez Canal Net Tonnage" (SCNT). This is fundamentally different from the common Deadweight Tonnage (DWT). SCNT is not a simple measure of a vessel's carrying capacity; rather, it is a proprietary tonnage figure calculated based on a comprehensive assessment of multiple parameters including the vessel's principal dimensions, cargo hold capacity, and deck equipment. This makes it more closely aligned with the actual cost of a vessel's transit through the canal.

苏伊士运河作为连接红海与地中海的关键航道，承担了全球约12%的海运贸易量，其通航效率直接影响到全球供应链的稳定。要准确把握运河费用，首先需要深入了解其独特的计费体系。苏伊士运河管理局（SCA）采用了一套高度专业化的计费标准，其中最为核心的概念便是“苏伊士净吨位”（SCNT），这与常见的载重吨（DWT）有着本质区别。SCNT并非简单衡量船舶的载重能力，而是根据船舶主尺度、货舱容积及甲板设备等多项参数综合计算得出的专有吨位，更贴合船舶在运河中通行的实际成本。

Basics of Suez Canal Transit Fees

苏伊士过河费基础

The SCA uses Special Drawing Rights (SDR) as the settlement unit. SDR is an international reserve asset issued by the International Monetary Fund, and its exchange rate against the US dollar fluctuates daily. The fee calculation follows a three-step conversion: the result of (Base Rate × SCNT) in SDR is then exchanged into US Dollars at the official rate. The SCA updates the exchange rate on its official website daily at 9:00 AM. This mechanism means that canal fees can vary on different dates, adding complexity to cost estimation.

SCA采用特别提款权（SDR） 作为结算单位，这是一种由国际货币基金组织发行的国际储备资产，其兑美元汇率每日波动。在实际计费过程中，费用计算需经过"基础费率×SCNT→换算成SDR→再兑美元"三步转换。SCA每日上午9点会在官网更新汇率，这一机制使得运河费用在不同日期可能有所差异，增加了费用预估的复杂性。

For special vessel types, the SCA has established a series of dedicated billing rules, which often differ significantly from those for general cargo ships. The billing for special vessel types is not only based on SCNT but is also closely related to various factors such as the vessel's function, type of cargo carried, and sailing condition. Failure to accurately grasp these special rules can frequently lead to estimation deviations exceeding 10%, causing substantial impact on cost control for shipping companies.

对于特殊船型而言，SCA制定了一系列专门的计费规则，这些规则常常与普通货船的计费方式大相径庭。特殊船型的计费不仅基于SCNT，更与船舶功能、载货类型、航行状态等多种因素密切相关。若不能准确把握这些特殊规则，费用预估偏差超过10%的情况时有发生，对航运企业的成本控制造成实质性影响。

Table: Overview of Billing Characteristics for Major Special Ship Types in the Suez Canal

表：苏伊士运河主要特殊船型计费特点概述

Billing Rules for Combination Carriers

组合船的计费规则

Rules for Laden Condition

满载状态计费规则

For an OBO vessel in a laden condition, the applicable rate is determined by the actual type of cargo carried. If carrying dry bulk cargo such as iron ore, the bulk carrier rate applies. If carrying crude oil, the tanker rate applies (tanker rates are typically 5%-8% higher than bulk carrier rates). When the vessel carries multiple types of cargo simultaneously, the SCA applies the "highest rate prevails" principle. The fee for the entire transit is calculated directly based on the standard of the cargo type with the highest rate. For example, for an OBO vessel carrying both coal and chemical products, even if the chemical products constitute only a small proportion, the entire voyage will be charged at the higher chemical tanker rate.

OBO船在满载状态下，需按实际载货类型套用相应费率。若装载铁矿石等干散货，则按散货船费率计费；若装载原油，则按油船费率计费（油船费率通常比散货船高出5%-8%）。当船舶同时装载多种类型的货物时，SCA采用"就高不就低"的原则，直接按其中费率最高的货种标准核算整个航次的费用。例如，同时装载煤炭和化工品的OBO船，即使化工品只占很小比例，整个航次也将按化工品船的高费率计算。

Rules for Ballast Condition

压载状态计费规则

For an OBO vessel in a ballast condition, regardless of its previous cargo history, the uniform bulk carrier ballast rate applies. This rule simplifies the billing process for ballast voyages, avoiding potential unfair charges due to differences in past cargo types.

处于压载状态的OBO船，不论其历史载货记录如何，统一按散货船压载费率计费。这一规定简化了空载航行的计费流程，避免了因过往货种不同而导致的不公平计费现象。

Combination carriers, especially OBO (Ore/Bulk/Oil) vessels, are among the ship types with the highest billing complexity within the Suez Canal's fee system. The SCA has clear and strict regulations governing the billing principles for such vessels, with the core tenet being "the type of cargo determines the rate, and for mixed cargoes, the highest rate prevails." This principle translates into various specific rules in practice, which require accurate understanding by shipowners and operators.

组合船，特别是OBO船（矿石/散货/石油兼用船），在苏伊士运河计费体系中属于计费复杂度最高的船型之一。SCA对这类船舶的计费原则有着明确而严格的规定，其核心在于"载货类型决定费率，混装就高不就低"。这一原则在实际操作中体现为多种具体规则，需要船东和运营者准确把握。

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