According to a recent circular issued by the Suez Canal Authority, Crude Oil Tankers (Laden or Ballast), coming from ports of the US Gulf, Caribbean area and Latin America heading to Asian ports shall be granted reductions in the normal tolls until the end of 2018.
Specifically,
Crude Oil Tankers coming from ports of the US Gulf, Caribbean area heading to:
- Ports West of Indian subcontinent starting from Karachi to Cochin shall be granted a reduction of 45% of the Suez Canal normal tolls.
- Ports located East of Cochin shall be granted a reduction of 75% of Suez Canal normal tolls.
Crude Oil Tankers coming from ports of Latin America Starting from Colombia (San Andres Island- Latitude 12o 34′ 40” N) and its south heading to:
- Ports West of Indian subcontinent starting from Karachi to Cochin shall be granted reduction of 65% of the Suez Canal normal tolls.
- Ports located East of Cochin shall be granted a reduction of 75% of Suez Canal normal tolls.
The Suez Canal Authority has also provided with the requirements for a vessel to be granted the toll reductions, which are the following:
- Any operating company wishing to benefit from this circular must submit a request through its shipping agency before sailing from the origin port. The request must state: vessel’s particulars, origin port and destination port, ETA to the Suez Canal and vessel’s condition.
- The vessel must not call any intermediate ports during its voyage between origin port and destination port for commercial purposes. In case the vessel called any intermediate ports for none commercial purposes a certificate issued by the port authority or other competent authorities will be required stating the reason of calling.
- Full normal Suez Canal transit tolls to be paid upon transit and the rebate amount will be refunded after submitting all the required documents within one calendar year starts the following day of transit.
- Required documents to refund the rebate amount: “Origin port” certificate from the last port that the vessel sailed from stating the departure date, quantity of cargo in metric tons and type of cargo on departure duly signed & stamped by the port authority or other competent authorities; “Destination port” certificate from the first port of arrival stating the arrival date, quantity of cargo in metric tons and type of cargo on arrival duly signed and stamped by the port authority or other competent authorities; “Principals Claim” requesting to refund the rebate 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 has not called any intermediate ports for commercial purposes.
- Failing to submit all the required documents in due time or breaching any of the circular conditions will lead to the cancellation of the rebate previously granted to the vessel.
This circular will takeseffect for vessels sailing from port of origin as of January 1, 2018 till December 31,2018.
