Port Said - General Info
Description:
The city of Port Said is located at the northern end of the Suez Canal on the Mediterranean Sea. Once an important trading center it has many old buildings and a lighthouse built to mark the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.
With visas in Turkey now restricted to visits of 90 days in 180, it’s useful to know that Port Said is just a 2-3 day sail away from Marmaris if considering cruising Egypt in the interim.
Yachts arriving from the Mediterranean can clear into Egypt here as the first port of entry.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
- Because of the high density of shipping traffic and the difficult approach to Port Said, the harbor should not be entered at night.
- A pilot is required for entry into Port Said.
- On arrival in the waiting area at the port entrance (Position 31° 15’39″N, 32° 20’28″E), call Port Said Port Control on VHF Channel 12 and give them the Agent’s name and all the yacht details, as well as requesting permission to proceed to the Yacht Club.
- Port Control will then send a pilot to the entrance of the port to guide arriving yachts to the Yacht Club marina. The pilot will come out in his orange boat – be well prepared with fenders and pay a “tip” (a small sailing yacht should pay around $10).
- Port Fouad Yacht Club is located on the eastern side of the harbor. Currently, cruisers don’t recommend staying at this port. Apart from the yacht club moorings being affected by the wash of traffic leaving the canal, you are likely to be charged whatever the numerous officials think that they can get away with.
- The Yacht Club here is temporarily closed for re-development (October 2024).
- Fees charged to visiting yachts can fluctuate widely here. See Clearance for more details.
Position:
31° 15’39″N, 32° 20’28″E (waiting area)
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Related to following destinations: Egypt, Mediterranean Coast (Egypt), Port Said
Port Navigation
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Checked in at Port Said on 29th June late afternoon. We got guided into the Yacht Club which is the dirtiest place to berth I ever saw in my entire life. I got longside berthed at the N wall. Dont stay at the S wall. The swell created by passing boats is smashing your boat against the wall.
I had a Crew of 6 and we decided to get a Visa (which was a fatal mistake). Also due to the fact that we arrived on national holiday, all processes was delayed and as the cost for some authorities are doubled on Friday-Saturday, we decided to wait and go into the Channel on Sunday morning.
We had to wait on the boat until we got picked up for the Visa which happend on Friday morning around 10.AM
Then we cam back around lunch time and had to wait on the boat all day for inspections by health office and Coast Guard, which happend at 09.00PM at night. Friday gone.
Saturday morning used for some Grocerie shopping, then back to the boat at 12.00AM waiting to get measured to get the Channel cost. Measurement was done at 4PM, then we had to wait for the agent to come with the final bill at 8PM evening. Saturday gone.
Then the biggest surprise. The overall cost which has been initially quoted at around 750,- USD increased to a total amount of 1450,- USD to be paid in Cash. No cards accepted. The channel rate increased from 450,- USD to 630,- USD with the explanation, that now the authority charge based on displacement instead of measured volume (wondering why we got measured and the measurement guy even provided the volume calculation formula to me). Port cost doubled as all major cost provided in the agents quotation suddenly changed into daily cost.
So in summary: be very careful in choosing your agent and get a written and signed quotation including all related cost. At arrival, get this signed quote re-confirmed with the agent.
Be prepared that all day long you will be approached by people from everywhere asking for ‘backshish’ drinks, T-shirts, cigarretts and whatever else they can use.
Thanks for this feebdack Frank, it doesn’t look like much has changed since we got negative feedback about this port over a year ago. Probably best avoided.
Reported by Agent – Prince of the Red Sea:
Port Said has increased the price for the port clearance from 40$ to 652$ for any sailing yacht transiting southbound. Port Said is the only way to go to the Suez Canal, southbound.
I have one boat now arrive at Port Fouad Marina wishing to transit south, but the port authorities are asking for the new rules 88 2018.
Which is the new fees of 652 $ for port clearance.
The yacht was forced to leave the marina in 30 knots of wind at night because he had no money to pay the 652$. The yacht finally went back to the Mediterranean and changed their plans.
The 652 $ is only for the port clearance. For example, yesterday that boat if he allowed for the transit he has to pay:
Suez Canal dues – 400$
Port Clearance – 652$
Total 1052$ for yacht 13 meter, without the agent fees.
Very bad.
For your info. we have no problems in Suez at all for yachts going northbound, still with the normal fees.
So in Port Said now, the cost for all foreign flag yachts from 1 meter to 18 meter – clearance fees 652$.
If over 18 meter – 850$.
Capt Heebi.