The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has announced it is increasing the transit surcharge for yachts transiting the Canal to 26 percent, an increase of 12 percent above the normal rate.
Periodical 26/2026, which came into effect on July 15th, places yachts and pleasure crafts as “special floating units”. The base tariff, last revised in 2024, has not changed.
The surcharge is applied to northbound and southbound transit, and comes amidst a decline in maritime activity in the wake of the US-Iran conflict.
The Suez operates as a convenient entryway for yachts moving between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. In recent years, Egyptian authorities have made an effort to position the Red Sea as a cruising destination. In 2024, the SCA pushed initiatives, such as reductions on transit and mooring fees, to bolster yacht activity.