INCREASE IN SUEZ CANAL TOLLS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30469, 17 June 1964, Page 22

INCREASE IN SUEZ CANAL TOLLS

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

CAIRO, June 15. A 1 per cent increase In transit tolls for all vessels using the Suez Canal was announced yesterday by Mr Mahmoud Younes, chairman of the board of directors of the Suez Canal Authority. The new rate, which will •pply for both loaded and unloaded ships, takes effect from midnight on June 29, Mr Younes said. The announcement was made at a special news conference called at the canal authority’s headquarters at ismailia. In addition, vessels exceeding a draught of 37ft and a width of 104 ft will pay an extra 2 per cent for every foot or fraction of a foot draught over 37ft Mr Younes estimated that the increases would mean a rise in tolls of £1,500,000 Egyptian (about

£N.Z.l,800,000). For vessels drawing over 37ft and wider than 104 ft, there will be a 3ft free-width allowance.

There will be an additional 1 per cent charge for every 6ft or fraction thereof for vessels- over 104 ft regardless of draught This will be effective from midnight on June 30. Mr Younes said that in the last three years there had been no significant increase in the number of ships using the canal, and there was no justification for providing for two-way traffic. Canal improvements had only been to allow for transit of larger vessels with deeper draughts.

He said that 68 of the 230 pilots now working on the canal were foreigners. Under the next five-year development programme the canal will be deepened to take vessels with a 41ft draught, 3ft more than the present maximum.