Page 129 - Rules of Navigation2020

CHAPTER VIII
NATURAL CONDITIONS

Art. 84 - Tides and Currents in SC along the Suez Canal (SC):

Suez Canal is divided into three main sectors according to the nature of both tide and current
in each. The characteristics of each can be summarized as follows:

A-The Northern Sector of SC:
This part is located between Port Said and Km. 50.

(1) The height of tide at Port Said co-oscillates with the tide of the Mediterranean Sea with
0.65 m extreme tidal range (Difference between two successive crests and trough levels

of tidal wave at Spring tides). Extreme tidal range at Kantara is 0.45 m. The mean tidal
range at Port Said, and Kantara, is about 0.30 m and 0.25 m , respectively

(2) Tide type at Port Said is almost semi-diurnal at Port Said which means that there are two
high peaks and two low peaks every day
(3) In this sector, the peak tidal current may reach 1.6 knot

(4) Currents may be increased by strong prevailing winds and other factors.
(5) At Port Said, Peak currents often occur between 30 and 90 minutes after High and Low

water level.
(6) The duration and velocity of currents in this sector are greatly affected by the relative
mean sea levels between the Mediterranean Sea, the Bitter Lakes and the Red Sea as

follows:
a) In Summer:

Between July and October, the mean sea level at Port Said is slightly higher than that at
Port Tewfik. This difference, which reaches its maximum of about 0.20 m in September,

beside the great evaporation at the Bitter Lakes, causes the predominance of the
Southward current.

b) In Winter :
Between December and May, the mean sea level at Port Tewfik is slightly higher than
that of Port Said. This difference which reaches its Maximum is about 0.30 m in January,

causes the predominance of the Northward current.
B- The sector between Km. 50 to Km. 130

This region includes double channels between km. 50 and km. 122: in addition to Timsah
and Bitter Lakes.

 The West channel is connected to both entrances of Timsah Lake and passes through
Bitter Lake.

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