Suez Canal reports no delays to shipping

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Vessels at Egypt’s port of Suez are unable to pick-up military escorts for protection through the pirate-prone Gulf of Aden due to the unrest in the country, a senior industry official said on Monday. Ships have been traveling through the Suez Canal, the main passageway for Europe’s crude oil and imported goods, as usual with no reports of delays or cancellations. Operations at the port have slowed, however, as anti-government protests have kept supplies and some staff from reaching the docks. “No ships have been delayed, but there have been no immigration or customs officials to clear security teams for shipments for the past two days,” said a senior coordinator with a shipping firm operating in Suez, who wished not to be named.

“Crew changes for ships have also stopped and some provisions, like food and water, were not reaching the port,” he added. Suez has jumped into the world’s radar as the scene of clashes between government forces and protesters demanding the removal of President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for three decades. Half of all vessels that travel through the Suez Canal stop at the port city to re-supply, refuel, change crew and pick-up security escorts, the company official said.

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