the critical ICS the decision to introduce tariff increases for the transit of the ships in the Suez Canal



The shipowning association International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has manifested worry for the tariff increases for the transits of the ships in the Suez Canal that are announced thursday slid from Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and that they will take effect the next 1° May.

"For all the ships, but above all for the smallest - it has explained the ICS - range of increases of the rates of the Suez Canal go according to give about 3% to 5% the tonnage and of the type of ship. These totally follow increases pairs to 3% that is introduced in March last year in spite of the protests of the field".

"The majority of the international operators of ships - it has found the general secretary of ICS, Peter Hinchliffe - is working in those which they are in living memory gets worse them conditions of the market of the shipping since there are too many ships in looks for of cargos, that they are too much little. This - it has evidenced - is not the moment for the announcement of increases by Suez Canal Authority, than for some commercial routes they seem to be indeed absolutely dramatic and that many shipowners will find impossible to transfer own customers".

"We realize that, with the field of tourism under pressure in Egypt and its other economic problems - has added Hinchliffe - are a greater pressure on the Suez Canal Authority so that guarantees that which today is the greatest source than foreign capitals of the nation. However the effect of these increases will be that of giving an incentive to those shipowners that perhaps are already taking in consideration the route of the Cape of Good Hope which real alternative".

The ICS has emphasized that the route through the Cape of Good Hope, in fact, is already becoming relatively less expensive since many ships are resorting to the practical one to reduce the speed in the attempt to contain the costs and to pull down the emissions of co2; moreover, at present the income of the Suez Canal through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden turn out little attractive for the shipowners because of the continuous threat of piracy somali, aggravated from the instability in Yemen; at last, the recent events in Egypt, between which the disorders to Ismaïlia and Port Saïd, they are generating worries about safety of the same channel.

"Also we are disappointed - it has added Hinchliffe - by the consultation lack that has preceded these increases. On credit of Suez Canal Authority - it has specified - it goes said that up to now the channel has continued to work well. However - it has concluded - ICS will restate its demand for a consultation complete and corrected between the industry and Suez Canal Authority, in particular when they are in forecast tariff adaptations".