Suez Canal Authority

Suez Canal Authority

Administration building in Port Said
Abbreviation SCA
Predecessor Suez Canal Company
Formation July 26, 1956 (1956-07-26)
Type Governmental agency
Purpose Managing the Suez Canal
Headquarters Ismaïlia
Coordinates 30°35′18″N 32°16′57″E / 30.58833°N 32.28250°E / 30.58833; 32.28250 (Suez Canal Authority headquarters, Ismaïlia)Coordinates: 30°35′18″N 32°16′57″E / 30.58833°N 32.28250°E / 30.58833; 32.28250 (Suez Canal Authority headquarters, Ismaïlia)
Chair
 Admiral Mohab Mameesh
Website www.suezcanal.gov.eg

Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is a state owned authority which owns, operates and maintains the Suez Canal. It was set up by Egypt to replace the Suez Canal Company in the 1950s which resulted in the Suez Crisis. After the UN intervened, Egypt agreed to pay millions of dollars to shareholders of the nationalized Suez Canal Company.

Establishment and organisation

SCA is an independent authority having legal personality. SCA[1] was established by the nationalization act signed on 26 July 1956 by the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. The act at the same time nationalized the Suez Canal Company and transferred all its assets and employees to the SCA established by this act.[2]

The head office is located in Ismaïlia. In Port Said the administration building of the earlier Suez Canal Company is used. Its Board of Directors comprises 14 persons, including the Chairman & Managing Director.

Chairmen of the Suez Canal Authority

Since nationalisation (1956–present):

Presidents of the Suez Canal Company

Before nationalisation, the owner was the Suez Canal Company (1858–1956):

Assets, duties and responsibilities

SCA owns the Suez Canal and all areas, buildings and equipment pertaining thereto.

SCA issues the Rules of Navigation, fixes the tolls for the use of the canal and collects them. The tolls are expressed in XDR and collected in USD, GBP, EUR and other currencies. In 2008, the total revenue in tolls was 5,381.9 million USD for the passage of a total of 21,415 vessels - resulting in an average toll of 251,314.5 USD per vessel.

SCA is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Suez Canal, for the safety of the traffic and for all other matters relating thereto.

According to the nationalisation act, SCA is bound by the 1888 Convention of Constantinople, which grants the right of free access and use of the canal at equal conditions to all ships, commercial ships and ships of war, in times of peace or of war, even to ships of belligerent parties.

SCA is responsible for the computerized traffic management supported by radar, for the 14 pilot stations and their pilots. Since 1996, SCA operates the Maritime Training and Simulation Center for its pilots.

SCA operates some 60 ships and boats, such as tugs, dredgers, cranes, and smaller boats.

According to SCA's web site, its facilities also include:

References

  1. ↑ This article is based on the information given in SCA's website
  2. ↑ Text of the Nationalisation Act in http://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/
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