New pilotage tariffs have come into effect at Port Said from July 15, as Egypt moves to modernize its marine services and enhance the competitiveness of one of its busiest ports.
Introduced by the Suez Canal Authority, the revised tariff structure updates pilotage charges for both Egyptian and foreign-flag vessels based on net tonnage. The new schedule applies to vessels arriving from or departing to sea, as well as berth-shifting operations, with charges covering net tonnage categories ranging from below 1,000 tonnes to above 60,000 tonnes.
Under the revised regulations, Egyptian-flag vessels will pay pilotage charges in Egyptian pounds based on the prevailing U.S. dollar exchange rate, while foreign-flag vessels will continue to be billed in U.S. dollars.
The new tariff also introduces a 50% surcharge for pilotage services provided during nighttime operations. Additionally, pilotage charges will increase automatically by 5% annually from July 1, 2027, to reflect rising marine service costs.
The tariff revision comes as Port Said continues to strengthen its global position, having been ranked 15th worldwide in the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025, published by the World Bank in partnership with S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Despite disruptions to global shipping caused by the Red Sea crisis, the CPPI report recognized Port Said for maintaining high operational efficiency through continued investments in berth expansion, channel deepening, modern cargo-handling equipment and enhanced container-handling capacity.
The revised pilotage tariffs are part of Egypt’s broader strategy to improve marine services, boost port competitiveness and support the development of integrated logistics hubs capable of attracting more international shipping services and accommodating future trade growth.