Egypt – Suez Canal Authority

Egypt has to date not ratified MARPOL Annex VI (click to view current status), however:

SCA Circular No. 08/2019 states:

“In consideration of using fuel oil with low Sulphur content in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI during transit from Suez Canal,

” you are kindly advised that Suez Canal Authority puts no conditions or restrictions on fuel oil or Open-loop Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems until ratification of MARPOL Annex VI by Arab Republic of Egypt.

“This is also in consistence with the obligation that Wash water resulting from exhaust gas cleaning systems shall not be discharged into water during vessels transit of Suez Canal.”

7 January 2020: Because the wording is seemingly ambiguous, EGCSA has sought further local advice.

EGCSA’s interpretation is that scrubber washwater should not be discharged during transit of the canal, which differs from that widely reported in the online maritime media and press. This has been confirmed by Gulf Agency Company in Egypt, who advise

“Since no restriction on high Sulphur using in Suez canal assume that the best is to not use the scrubbers during Suez Canal transit

“From SCA point of view to avoid any environmental rules breach no wash water to be discharge during transit.”

This has been subsequently confirmed in a communication from SCA, which can be downloaded here (courtesy NEPIA)

The original SCA circular can be viewed here.

Attention is also drawn to Suez Canal Authority Rules of Navigation Article 64 A.  which can be viewed here (search for the word ‘discharge’)