Transiting the Suez Canal: A Guide to Convoy Formations 过苏伊士运河：编队攻略

The Suez Canal is one of the world's most critical artificial waterways. It forms the conventional boundary between Asia and Africa and is a vital passage for travel and trade. Stretching 190 kilometers from Port Said in the north to the city of Suez in the south, the canal has been excavated from north of Port Said to enter the Mediterranean and extends south to Suez. A common operational challenge is convoy misassignment, which risks grounding, delays especially if grouped incorrectly with naval vessels, and disrupted schedules. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has strict regulations regarding timing, grouping, and speed for northbound and southbound convoys. Today, drawing on the experience of multiple captains, we present a convoy guide for transiting the Suez Canal, hoping it will assist fellow mariners.

苏伊士运河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。跑苏伊士时“编队排错队”是一个李国荣头疼的问题，闯错锚地浅滩险搁浅、军舰编错组耽误航程等等。苏伊士运河管理局（SCA）对北上、南下编队的时间、分组、航速都有硬规定，今天就结合多位船长经验，为大家带来过苏伊士运河的编队攻略，希望能帮助到各位。

Northbound Regulations

北上规定

Pilotage Anchorage: The outer pilotage anchorage is located between Buoys #1 and #3 south of New Reef, where the pilot boat also anchors. Note that the anchorage is densely packed with vessels, and there is a shallow patch of 6.9 meters nearby. Navigation and maneuvering must be conducted at reduced speed with precise positioning—avoid blind maneuvers that could risk grounding. It is best for convoys to arrive at the anchorage before 14:00 or after 19:00, when southbound vessels have mostly passed, reducing head-on conflicts and avoiding congestion in the channel.

引航锚地：外引航锚地在 新礁南面 1# 与 3# 灯浮之间，引航船也在此锚泊；要注意的是锚地船舶密集，附近有6.9米浅滩，航行操纵必须放慢速度、精准定位，别盲目机动蹭浅。编队最好在14:00前或19:00后 到锚地，此时南下船基本过完，减少对遇冲突，避免堵在航道里。

Contact and Piloting: When 5–10 nautical miles from Buoy #1, contact the port authority via VHF. They will assign an anchorage position and provide convoy information. Do not wait until you are close to call, as this may result in missing your slot. This task is the responsibility of the port pilot. Vessels with a draft of less than 11.3 meters do not need to wait for the tide and can proceed directly to the anchorage, saving time.

联系与引航：抵达 1#灯浮前5-10海里 时，用VHF联系港口当局，对方会指定锚位并通报编队信息，别等靠近了才呼叫，容易排不上号；要注意的是从引航锚地到编队锚地是由港口引航员负责；吃水11.3米以下的船不用候潮，直接进锚地更省时间。

Convoy Frequency and Grouping: Northbound convoys depart once daily, with sailing times between 05:00 and 10:00. Missing this window means waiting until the next day. All northbound vessels form one convoy, which is further divided into Group A and Group B. The criterion for "arriving on time" is determined by crossing a mandatory reporting line at the specified latitude: For Group A, crossing the line at 29°42.8′N within the specified time limit counts as an "arrived vessel"; for Group B, crossing the line at 29°48.3′N within the specified time limit counts as an “arrived vessel”.

编队频次与分组：北行编队每天1次，起航时间在05:00-10:00，错过就得等第二天。所有北上船编为1个编队，再分A、B两组，“准时到港”的标准可以看“闯纬度线时间”：A组在规定时限内通过 北纬29°42′.8线，就算“抵达船”；B组在规定时限内通过 北纬29°48′.3线，就算“抵达船”。

Group A/B Surcharges: Naval vessels are prioritized for inclusion in the northbound Group A convoy. Arrival before 01:00 incurs no surcharge; arrival between 01:00 and 03:00 incurs an additional 3% transit fee surcharge; arrival between 03:00 and 03:30 incurs an additional 5% surcharge. The time limits and surcharge ratios for Group B are exactly the same as for Group A; the only difference lies in the vessel types (non-naval vessels, large container ships, etc.).

A/B组编队附加费：军舰优先编入北上A组编队，在1：00前到达无需附加费；1：00-3：00之间抵达则需增收 3%过河费附加费；3：00-3：30抵达附加费则需要多加5%。B组时限与附加费比例和A组完全一致，区别只在船舶类型（非军舰、大型集装箱船等）。

Southbound Regulations

南下规定

Number of Convoys: All southbound vessels arriving at Port Said are divided into two convoys for the transit. Crossing the line at 31°28.7′N within the specified time limit counts as "arriving on time" and qualifies for inclusion in the corresponding convoy.

编队数量：所有抵达塞得港的南下船，分2个编队过河。在规定时限内通过北纬31°28′.7线，就算“准时到港”，可编入对应编队。

Convoy Surcharges: For the first southbound convoy (naval vessels prioritized), arrival before 19:00 incurs no surcharge; arrival between 19:00 and 21:00 allows inclusion in the first convoy but incurs an additional 3% transit fee surcharge; arrival between 21:00 and 22:00 allows inclusion in the first convoy but incurs an additional 5% surcharge. For the second southbound convoy (ordinary vessels), arrival before 03:00 allows inclusion in the second convoy with no surcharge; arrival between 04:00 and 05:00 allows inclusion in the second convoy but incurs an additional 3% surcharge.

编队附加费：南下第一编队（军舰优先编入）在19：00前到达无需附加费；19：00-21：00到达可入第一编队，但需要增收3%过河费附加费；21:00-22:00到达可入第一编队，但需要增收5%过河费附加费。南下第二编队（普通船舶）在3:00前抵达可编入第二编队，无需附加费；04:00-05:00抵达可入第二编队，但需增收3%过河费附加费。

Convoy Grouping

编队编组

Northbound

北上

Group A sets sail in two teams. The first team is the priority lead group, consisting of naval vessels, fourth/fifth-generation large container ships, LPG carriers, and LNG carriers. Speed is limited to 7.6 knots, serving as the "lead ships" of the convoy and entering the canal first. The second team, which follows, comprises fully loaded VLCCs, tankers, and heavy bulk carriers (draft > 11.6 m or length > 290 m). It maintains a slower speed of 7 knots.

A组分2队启航，第一队为优先开路梯队，包含军舰、第四/五代大型集装箱船、LPG 船、LNG 船。航速限制为14公里/小时（7.6节），作为编队“领头船”，率先进入运河。第二队为跟随梯队，包含满载VLCC船、普通满载油船、重型散货船（吃水＞11.6米或船长＞290米）。航速限制为13公里/小时（7节），速度稍慢，跟在优先开路梯队最后一艘船后面。

Group B consists of ordinary vessels, setting sail at 11:30. This includes other ordinary vessels anchored in the Gulf of Suez, which enter the canal following the last ship of the following group.
B组为普通船舶，在11:30起航。包含其他在苏伊士湾抛锚的普通船舶，跟随跟随梯队最后一艘船进入运河。

Southbound

南下

Group A consists of vessels moored or anchored at Port Said or within 4–15 km of the western channel of Port Said, including naval vessels. Departure begins around 01:00, after the last ship of the northbound convoy has entered the eastern channel at the 17 km point of Port Said.

A 组为在塞得港，或塞德港西航道4-15公里处系泊、抛锚的船舶，包含军舰。在北上编队最后一艘船进入塞得港17公里处东航道后，约 1:00开始起航。

Group B consists of fourth/fifth-generation container ships, loaded (especially fully loaded) VLCCs, and vessels with a draft > 11.6 m. Container ships enter the eastern channel entrance of Port Said first, followed by small vessels under 5,000 tons entering the canal at 06:00.

B组为第四/五代集装箱船、载货（尤其是满载）VLCC 船、吃水＞11.6米的船舶。由集装箱船率先进入塞得港东航道入口，5000吨以下小船在6:00进入运河。

Both Groups A and B maintain a speed of 7.6knots.

A、B两组航速均为14公里/小时。

During high traffic, the SCA may organize an additional southbound convoy. Vessels must arrive at Port Said anchorage before 02:00 and request a pilot by 03:00 to join. The second convoy departs Port Said between 07:00 and 09:00 and anchors in the EL-BALLAH western channel until all northbound convoy vessels have entered the EL-BALLAH eastern channel at the 60 km point. Note that the EL-BALLAH western channel has berthing restrictions: only vessels with a beam of 42.98–45 m and a draft of 10.97–11.58 m or less are permitted to anchor. Tankers carrying Class A petroleum, LPG carriers, LNG carriers, chemical carriers in bulk, and vessels transporting radioactive materials are strictly prohibited from joining the second convoy.

通航密度大时，SCA 会另组南下第二编队，要加入第二编队，必须在2:00前抵达塞得港锚地，最迟申请引水时间为3:00（错过就进不了）。第二编队于7:00-9:00离开塞得港，在EL-BALLAH西航道抛锚，直到北上编队全部进入60公里处的EL-BALLAH东航道；而EL-BALLAH西航道是有停泊限制的，仅允许船宽42.98-45米，吃水10.97-11.58米以下的船舶抛锚，运载A级石油的油船、LPG船、LNG船、散装化学物品船、运转放射性物质的船，严禁加入第二编队。

Pre-Transit Reminders

过河前提醒

The rules—covering navigation, surcharges, and convoy grouping—are detailed. Strict adherence is key to avoiding delays, surcharges, and ensuring a smooth transit. To address the various challenges of transiting the Suez Canal, E-PORTS provides comprehensive professional support and transit services for vessels. If you need to learn more about Suez transit solutions or other services, please contact us via:

这些规则看着繁琐，避开浅滩、各种附加费、组队编队限制等等。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

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