The Suez Canal Authority has issued a new navigation circular (No. 4) of 2024 to promote yacht tourism and develop marine tourism in the Red Sea region by providing a bundle of facilitations and incentives for the Canal transiting yachts.
This comes within the frame of the Authority's approach of pursuing flexible marketing policies aiming at encouraging yacht tourism in the area. The new circular takes effect as of the beginning of this November.
The new circular grants yachts with a gross tonnage of 300 tons or more a range of facilitations, including the option to join the direct convoy of ships, as well as the opportunity for direct transit without waiting at the anchorage in the Great Lakes area, in line with the regulations outlined in the SC Rules of Navigation and the guidelines for the Canal transit.
The new circular also indicates that yachts with a gross tonnage of less than 300 tons will receive a 20% discount on transit fees on the return voyage if they return from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean within 60 days of their outbound voyage.
Additionally, the facilitations include a 20% discount on transit fees for yachts that undergo wintering in the Ismailia Yacht Marina for more than 90 days, applicable to the voyage during which the wintering occurred, whether that voyage is from the north or south.
Furthermore, the circular grants a 50% discount on berthing fees for yachts with a gross tonnage of less than 300 tons at the Authority's Marinas in Port Said or Suez, at the canal entrances, provided that the yachts arrive at a suitable time for transit and do not require an overnight stay or any services (such as electricity or water) from the aforementioned marinas.
