Ain Sukhna Terminal

Size limits

Max LOA 299.15m, beam 48m, draught 14.8m and 159541DWT.

Max Offshore LOA 340m, BCM 171m, draught 22.4m and 362,929DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Mean range 1.5m. Max range 2.3m. The tidal streams set parallel to the coastline northwards on the flood tide and parallel to the coast southwards on the ebb. Max rate is 0.5kts.

Waves: Max height of extreme waves are 3.7m; max crest elevation 3.3m; period 7.5 seconds; length 85m; speed 22kts; direction from N.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The approach to Ain Sukhna Terminal is from the Gulf of Suez TSS.

In regards to the Gulf of Suez TSS; The N most lane is for W bound approaching traffic, the SE lane for departing traffic. There are crossing places, to leave or to join the N and S bound lanes of the TSS. The W bound approach traffic lane and the crossing place through the separation zone from the N bound lane are covered by the green sector (260°-273°) of Ain Sukhna Light. The SE bound departure traffic lane and the crossing place to the N bound lane are covered by the red sector (298°-306°) of Ain Sukhna Light.

Port limits

The port limits extend SE to include the anchorage area.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Traffic schemes are in place for vessels transiting the Suez Canal (Gulf of Suez TSS), vessels bound for Ain Sukhna Terminal must observe the aforementioned scheme and use appropriate caution when joining, crossing and leaving the traffic lane (see Approaches entry for more information).

Anchorages

The Ain Sukhna anchorage area is situated between 2nm and 5nm to the SE of SBM No 4. Anchorage may be obtained in depths between 47 to 56m on mud bottom. P1, P2 and P3 are six circular anchorages to the SW of the anchorage area, each have a 500m radius. V1, V2 and V3 on the other hand have a radius of 800m.

Caution: There are disused submarine cables in the central part of the main anchorage area.

Restrictions

Caution: Harris Rock (29°38'N., 032°24'E), a dangerous rock, lies about 2.25nm N of No 1 SBM. It is worth noting that there are coral pinnacles located in the NW part of the port WSW of the pilot boarding position and in the turning basin of the FSRU berth.

There are numerous disused submarine cables that lie between the Gulf of Suez TSS and the limits of the port as well as the anchorage area (see Anchorages entry for more information), mariners are to use caution within the these areas.

Depths at the SBM berths may be reduced by up to 5.2m by seabed installations.

All vessel transiting between 29°25'N and 29°35'N must notify their passage with the tankers proceeding to Ain Sukhna Terminal.

Tugs

There is 1 tug of 3,200hp and 1 tug/supply vessel of 6,000hp available, both with fire fighting and anti pollution equipment as required. Tugs are stationed at the Tug Berth within the harbour area.

Six mooring launches of 500hp each.

Mooring

Buoys No 1, 2 and 4 are equipped with 1 x 19in circumference grommet, length 55m, ending with a 8.9m chafing chain. The pick up rope is 107m x 10in polypropylene rope with a 1.0m soft eye at the end.

Buoy No 3 is equipped with 1 x 15in grommet, length 55m, ending with a 7.6m chafing chain. The pick up rope is similar to that at the other buoys.

If a vessel is not equipped with a suitable chain stopper, wire snotters will be provided for connecting the chafing chain to the vessel's bollards.

Tankers secure to the SBM's with two buoy lines and embark the oil hoses on their port side using a ship's derrick or crane, with a safe working load of at least 10t.

Mooring and discharging operations continue throughout 24 hours, weather permitting.

Laytime: Vessels moored to the SBM's must limit their stay to the allowed berth occupancy time stipulated in the transportation agreement between Sumed and the relevant shipper. Laytime will be calculated as Buoy occupancy time plus 10 hours.

Berth occupancy time is the period between hose connection before discharging and hose disconnection after completion of discharging.

Trim: Vessels are requested to arrive at the terminal trimmed on an even keel.

Berthing within the harbour at Ain Sukhna Marine Terminal is supported with 12 berthing dolphins and 18 mooring dolphins.

Charts and publications

BA 2132, 2133, 2373, 159. Admiralty Pilot NP64, NP286(8).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

All vessels transiting to Egyptian ports in the Red Sea N of 23°00'N must request permission to enter Egyptian waters from subsequent port authorities via their agents. The aforementioned request must be sent at least 48hrs before crossing the parallel of 23°N.

Communications

Ain Sukhna Terminal contact info

VHF: Ch 16, 78, 79

Telephone: +20 62 3363071

Facsimile: +20 62 3360354

Port Authority contact info

Telephone: +20 69 3191117 / +20 69 3191120

Facsimile: +20 69 3710320 / +20 69 3710322

Email: [email protected]

SUMED Alexandria contact info

Telex: 91 54033 SUMED UN / 91 54108 SUMED UN

Note: All vessels in the Gulf of Suez must maintain as constant listening watch on VHF Ch 16.

Notice of readiness

NOR should be tendered when vessel arrives at Ain Sukhna anchorage area provided that the vessel is ready in all respects to unload her cargo. NOR will be accepted according to Sumed's agreement with the relevant shipper.

Documents

Vessels official documents after being reviewed will be handed to the vessel's Master after discharging and before the vessel leaves the terminal.

Cargo documentation: Sumed's Mooring Master is authorised to sign Sumed's documents, NOR acceptance and Letters of Protest but is not authorised to sign the vessel's papers such as Time Sheet, Log Book, Ullage Reports or any other documents other than Sumed's documents.

Copy of Bill of Lading for all grades must be handed to Sumed's Mooring Master before commencement of discharge.

Health

Masters must immediately notify Sumed by cable in case of any epidemic diseases or illness onboard while the vessel is bound for Ain Sukhna. The same message is to be conveyed to the terminal as soon as VHF contact is established, at least 6 hours before arrival. A port Health Officer boards on arrival.

A port health official boards on arrival.

Quarantine regulations are similar to those in force at Suez.

Customs and immigration

Customs: On berthing, Customs Officers will attend to check the ship's bonded store according to the list prepared by the Master.

There is no alcohol allowance for ships crews whilst in port, cigarettes only are allowed. Penalties for non compliance are large.

Immigration: The Immigration Officer is the first person to board after the pilot, he checks the Seaman's Books and issues the shore permits for crew members. Nobody is allowed to board the vessel before the Immigration clearance. Crew and/or passengers cannot leave the vessel before the attendance of the Immigration Officer.

Flags

Hoisting of the Egyptian flag on arrival is essential. If the flag is not available on arrival the Master may request one, through the agent, upon berthing.

Notices and regulations

Vessels arriving with cargo to be discharged, or for loading cargo, will not be berthed unless receivers or shippers are ready with the necessary documents duly approved by the state agent/customs.

Shore leave is not permitted and main engines are required to be kept at immediate notice. Vessels must be prepared to vacate the SBM's immediately on instructions from the berthing master. Vessels are required to arrive at the terminal on an even keel.

Signals shown at the berth include the International Code of Signals Flag "B" which is flown by day whilst an all-around red light will be displayed at night whilst oil transfer operations are in place.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Maritime Transport Sector.

Position: Head of Department

Address: 4 Petolomy Street, Alexandria, 21514, Egypt.

Fax: +203 484 2096

Email: [email protected]

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Class NK.

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Repairs

Engines may not be shut down for repairs whilst a vessel is moored to an SBM. There are no repair facilities at Ain Sukhna Terminal.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Not available.

Bunkering: All grades available by barge.

Stores: May be taken at the anchorage after completion of discharge. Advance notice should be given.

Medical

Nearest hospital: General hospital, private doctors and facilities are available at Suez (50km).

Crew change

Crew change is possible.

Transport

Nearest airport: Capital International Airport (71.5km) and Cairo International Airport (108km).

Nearest railway: Suez Train Station (46.2km).

Nearest highway: The port has direct access to National Road 65. The road travels along the Suez Gulf coast from Safaga in the S to Suez in the N.

Nearest public transport: Bus routes available throughout Cairo and New Cairo City (98km).

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Ain Sukhna is situated on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez, approx 50km S of Suez.

The port

Ain Sukhna Terminal is the S terminal of the Sumed pipeline and consists of 4 SBM's moored between 1.0 and 2.5nm offshore, FSRU 'BW Singapore' and jetty berths. Crude oil is offloaded at the port when vessels are too deep to enter the Suez Canal fully loaded. The subsequent oil is pumped at three boosting stations and fed to two main pumping stations of ten 11,000hp pumps to Sidi Kerir via 2 x 42in 320km pipelines.

FSRU 'BW Singapore' was moved to Ain Sukhna Terminal in October 2015 to meet Egypt's growing demand for the importation of LNG. The FSRU is located at the harbour and moored to the pier adjacent to berths PB-1 and PB-2.

What are the pilot arrangements at Ain Sukhna Terminal?

Pilotage is compulsory.

What time zone is Ain Sukhna Terminal in?

Local time at Ain Sukhna Terminal is UTC+2. Clocks go to UTC+3 on 29 Apr 2027. Back to UTC+2 on 28 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Ain Sukhna Terminal?

The deepest berth listed is at Ain Sukhna Terminal: 22.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Ain Sukhna Terminal?

1025.

Which load line zone is Ain Sukhna Terminal in?

Tropical.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Ain Sukhna Terminal?

The UN/LOCODE of Ain Sukhna Terminal is EGAIS.

What crews who called at Ain Sukhna Terminal say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

Read and add tips for Ain Sukhna Terminal →