96004 Set By Current Off Suez

Area of Concern
Suez Canal

REPORT No. 96004

I was recently on a bulk carrier passing through the Suez Canal in a northbound convoy on a maximum Suez draft of 56 feet. It had been noted froma report on the ship's file that on a previous voyage the vessel had beenpassing in the vicinity of the HM80 buoy of the Port Said By Pass FairwayChannel when a very severe and sudden set to the east was encountered. Thisincident had occurred just east of the termination of the extended breakwater.I therefore had good warning and as soon as I had dropped the pilot, theengines were put to full ahead. The vessel was slowly picking up speed sothat by the time we were approaching the area of concern, we were makingabout 10 knots through he water. The ship was steering very well and wasin the middle of the buoyed channel, however, it was noticed on this occasionthat the vessel was suddenly set quite heavily to the west in the area ofthe HM60 buoy. The steering became quite difficult for a period and requiredthe use of large helm movements. The echo sounder indicated good underkeelclearance.
There is a time delay in appreciating that one is being set sidewaysif there are no leading lights and the situation could become serious when,due to the local topography, the set occurs suddenly. The dredged depthof the channel at Chart Datum is 21.5 metres. It is hoped that this reportmay be of assistance in highlighting the problem to other deep draft orlow-powered vessels and to the Suez Canal Authority.