Rebate for container ships

18 Oct 2023 / Suez Canal, Egypt

The Suez Canal Authority has announced a new rebate for container ships travelling direct from ports in North-West Europe, effective from 15 January to 30 June 2024.

Container ships (laden/ballast) directly coming from ports in North-West Europe and Tangier Port, starting from Algeciras, and directly heading to Far East ports (Port Klang and further east), will be exempted from the 15% increase in the normal transit dues.

Any operating company wishing to benefit from this circular must submit a request through its shipping agency before the vessel sails from the port of origin. The request must state the vessel’s particulars, origin port, sailing date, destination port, ETA to Suez Canal, vessel’s condition (laden\ballast) and the type & quantity of cargo.

The vessel must not call any intermediate ports for commercial purposes during its voyage between the origin and destination ports for commercial purposes. If the vessel calls at any intermediate ports for non-commercial purposes a certificate issued by the port authority or other competent authorities will be required stating the reason.

The following documents required to legalise the granted exemption must be submitted as one package within one year starts the next day of the vessel’s transit:

  • “Origin port” certificate from the last port the vessel sailed from, stating departure date, quantity of cargo in metric tons, type of cargo upon departure, reason for calling at the port, and the vessel’s status upon departure. This must be duly signed & stamped by the port authority or other competent authorities.
  • “Destination port” certificate from the first port of arrival, stating arrival date, quantity of cargo in metric tons, type of cargo upon arrival, reason for calling at the port, and the vessel’s status upon arrival. This must be duly signed and stamped by the port authority or other competent authorities.
  • “Principals Claim” requesting to legalise the exempted amount stating the circular number, port of origin and sailing date, destination port and arrival date, transit date and a clear disclaimer that the vessel had not called any intermediate ports for commercial purposes.

Upon the vessel’s transit, the vessel’s shipping agency must submit a Pledge that they will pay the granted exemption amount in case of calling at any intermediate ports for commercial purposes, failure to submit the required documents during the pre-set period, or failure to abide to any of the circular’s conditions.

For further details, as well as information about operations in the Suez Canal, contact GAC Egypt at [email protected]

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