Monday 22nd October 2007 - Transit Suez Canal.
This is a once in a lifetime experience - neither of us expect to do this again. We are currently anchored in the Bitter Lakes, part of a convoy of 18 southbound ships, waiting to be passed by 25 ships in the northbound convoy which, apparently, always has priority. So, for a rapid transit, travel north young man, or prepare for a six hour wait two thirds through the passage!
Evening
After six hours in the Bitter Lake the convoy moves on to the second tranche of the Suez canal - all in a line about 300 metres apart. We reach Suez (actually Suweis) at around 6.30 pm and swap our canal pilot for our Gulf pilot. Pretty uneventful as the sun sets and we head down the Sinai peninsular.
We were informed in the evening that the cost of the transit was $180 thousand.
This is a once in a lifetime experience - neither of us expect to do this again. We are currently anchored in the Bitter Lakes, part of a convoy of 18 southbound ships, waiting to be passed by 25 ships in the northbound convoy which, apparently, always has priority. So, for a rapid transit, travel north young man, or prepare for a six hour wait two thirds through the passage!
Evening
After six hours in the Bitter Lake the convoy moves on to the second tranche of the Suez canal - all in a line about 300 metres apart. We reach Suez (actually Suweis) at around 6.30 pm and swap our canal pilot for our Gulf pilot. Pretty uneventful as the sun sets and we head down the Sinai peninsular.
We were informed in the evening that the cost of the transit was $180 thousand.
