The Suez Canal is located within Egypt, on the western side of the Sinai Peninsula, traversing the Isthmus of Suez. It lies between Port Said on the Mediterranean side and the city of Suez on the Gulf of Suez side of the Red Sea, serving as a major international shipping route connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. As the "shipping choke point" linking these three continents, the rules set by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) are meticulous down to "the wattage of every light and the strength of every rope." Today, based on the experiences of multiple transit captains, we analyze the lighting requirements for transiting the Suez Canal.

苏伊士运河（Suez Canal）位于埃及境内，西奈半岛西侧，横跨苏伊士地峡，处于地中海侧的塞得港和红海苏伊士湾侧的苏伊士两座城市之间，是连通欧亚非三大洲的主要国际海运航道。作为连通欧亚非的“航运咽喉”，苏伊士运河管理局（SCA）的规则细致到 “每盏灯的功率、每根缆绳的强度”，今天就整理多位过河船长的经验，为大家分析苏伊士过河的灯具要求。

Bow Searchlight

船首探照灯

 

Installation Location

安装位置

 

It must be installed on the ship's centerline at the bow. The purpose is to ensure the beam projects directly forward, clearly illuminating the canal channel, and to avoid blind spots caused by deviation to the left or right.

必须装在船首船舶中心线处。目的是确保光束正前方照射，能清晰照亮运河航道，避免偏左或偏右导致视线盲区。

 

Technical Parameters

技术参数

 

Illumination Distance: A single beam must reach 1800 meters ahead. With an atmospheric transmission factor T=0.85, the illuminance at 1800 meters must be 1 lux (equivalent to the brightness needed to see a human face 50 meters away at night).

照亮距离：单光束必须照到前方1800米，且在大气传递系数T=0.85时，1800米处的照度得有1勒克斯（相当于夜间看清50米外人脸的亮度）；

 

Luminous Intensity & Power: Must reach 3×10⁶ candelas (three million candelas). The corresponding power is divided for two ship categories:

发光强度&功率：必须达到3×10⁶烛光（三百万烛光），对应功率分两种船：

 

Ships of 30,000 Suez Canal Gross Tonnage (SCGT) and below: At least 2000W high-efficiency incandescent lamp.

30000苏伊士运河总吨及以下：至少2000W高效白炽灯。

 

Ships above 30,000 SCGT: At least 3000W high-efficiency incandescent lamp.

30000苏伊士运河总吨以上：至少3000W高效白炽灯。

 

(Note: Other types like LED lamps can also be used, but they must meet the requirements of "three million candelas + explosion-proof type." Do not install ordinary lamps to save costs.)

（注：也能用LED等其他类型灯，但必须满足"三百万烛光+防爆型"，别贪便宜装普通灯）。

 

Material & Structure: The lamp housing and bracket must be made of highly corrosion-resistant material (e.g., 316 stainless steel). They must allow for horizontal and vertical angle adjustment to accommodate different channel slopes.

材料&结构：灯筒和支架得用高耐腐蚀材料（比如316不锈钢），能水平、垂直调节角度，方便应对不同航道坡度；

 

Glass & Reflector: The front glass must be hardened type, resistant to cracking under sudden temperature changes (e.g., due to day-night temperature differences in the canal). The reflector must be either "two precisely ground high-quality glass mirrors" or polished aluminum sheets with a reflectance ≥95%. Insufficient reflectance will cause the beam to scatter, failing to reach 1800 meters.

玻璃&反射器：前面玻璃必须是硬化型，骤冷骤热不炸裂（比如遇到运河昼夜温差）；反射器要么是“两半精密研磨的高质量玻璃镜”，要么是反射率≥95%的抛光铝片，如果反射率不够会导致光束散，照不到1800米；

 

Beam Adjustment: The two reflectors can be combined to form a "single beam" or separated into two independent beams (each with a horizontal divergence angle ≥5 degrees). The dark sector between them can be adjusted from 0 to 10 degrees (reduce the dark sector in narrow channels to avoid glare from illuminating the banks).

光束调节：两片反射器能合起来成“单一光束”，也能分开成两个独立光束（每个水平开角≥5度），中间的黑暗扇区可在0-10度调节（过窄航道时调小暗区，避免照到堤岸晃眼）；

 

Watertightness & Protection: The drum-shaped lamp body must be watertight, tested to a pressure of 0.25 kgf/cm² (equivalent to pressure at 2.5 meters underwater). The electrical system (switch, plug, cable) must be Grade 1 marine products with a protection rating of IP55 (dust-protected and protected against water jets, to prevent damage from canal dust and spray).

水密&防护：鼓状灯体必须水密，测试压力达0.25kg/㎡（相当于水下2.5米的压力）；电气系统（开关、插头、电缆）得是一级船用产品，防护等级IP55（防粉尘+防喷射水，避免运河沙尘和浪花损坏）。

 

Requirements for Special Vessels

特殊船舶的要求

 

For vessels carrying petroleum products, LNG, LPG, or vessels that are not gas-freed, the searchlight must have two additional features:

如果是载石油产品、LNG、LPG的船，或没除气的船，探照灯得加两项：

 

The gas-tight searchlight must have a vent opening, fitted with a hose to discharge hot air to a "location free of flammable gases" (e.g., the windward side of the deck, away from cargo holds), to prevent hot air from igniting leaked oil and gas.

气密型探照灯必须开透气孔，装软管把热空气排到“无可燃气体的部位”（比如远离货舱的甲板上风处），避免热空气引燃泄漏的油气；

 

Cable laying and electrical connections must be "permanently fixed, insulated, and gas-tight." Terminals near the searchlight must be fitted with "fixed, gas-tight, explosion-proof sockets." There was an incident where an oil tanker's searchlight lost power during navigation due to loose cables that were not fixed, forcing a temporary halt for rectification.

电缆敷设和电气连接要"永久性固定、绝缘、气密"。靠近探照灯的终端得装"固定气密的防爆型插座"。曾有艘油轮因电缆没固定，航行中松动导致探照灯断电，只能临时停航整改。

 

Power Supply Guarantee

供电保障

 

For electrically propelled vessels or vessels with electrically driven equipment (steering gear, winches), the generators must satisfy: if one generator stops, the remaining ones can ensure uninterrupted operation of the searchlight. This requirement does not apply if the vessel has an independent dedicated generator and circuit for the searchlight.

电力推进船或有电气驱动装置（操舵、绞车）的船，发电机得满足：一台停机后，剩下的能保证探照灯不间断工作。除非船上有专供探照灯的独立发电机加电路。

 

Certificate Requirements

证书要求

 

A "Type Test Certificate" issued by a classification society (e.g., Lloyd's Register, CCS) is mandatory. The original certificate must be presented to the Suez Canal Authority office; copies are not accepted. The certificate must include "lighting test" records proving compliance with all technical requirements.

必须有船级社（如劳氏、CCS）发的“型式试验证书”，要带原件提交给苏伊士运河办事处，复印件不认；证书里必须包含“照明试验”记录，证明符合所有技术要求。

 

Vessels Required to Have Their Own Searchlights

需要自设探照灯的船舶

 

LNG carriers and LPG carriers must, without exception, be equipped with their own searchlights.

LNG 船、LPG 船必须毫无例外地自设探照灯；

 

Vessels entering the Canal directly from sea must also be equipped with their own searchlights.

直接由海上进入运河的船舶（Vessels entering the Canal, direct from sea）也必须自设探照灯；

 

Yachts and tugs of 150 SCGT and below may transit using their own projectors, provided they are equipped with at least 2 searchlights, each with a power not less than 1000W, and without the need for a shore electrician to board.

150苏伊士运河总吨位及以下的游艇和拖船（Yachts and tugs），在至少装设2个探照灯，且每个功率不小于1000 W，在没有岸上电工登船的情况下，可自设探照灯通过运河（can transit with their own projectors）。

 

Non-Compliance Penalties

不合规处罚

 

1st/2nd instance of non-compliance with searchlight or electrical connection requirements: Transit is permitted only during daytime, causing schedule delays (e.g., originally planned night transit to save time, forced to wait until daylight).

第1/2次探照灯或电气连接不合格：只能白天过运河，耽误船期（比如原本计划夜航节省时间，被迫等天亮）；

 

3rd instance and beyond: In addition to daytime transit only, an additional fine of USD 4300 is imposed.

第3次及以后：除了白天通航，还要额外付4300美元罚款。

 

Overhead Lights

高架灯

 

Overhead lights (deck lights) have fewer requirements, but missing or non-compliant installation will still cause detention. There are two core rules:

高架灯（甲板灯）虽要求少，但漏装或不达标照样被卡。核心就2条规则：

 

Illumination Range: Must be able to illuminate "all directions around the vessel." The minimum horizontal illumination distance is 200 meters (approx. 650 feet).

照亮范围：必须能照亮“四周所有方向”，水平方向最小照亮距离200米（约 650 英尺）；

 

Lamp Type: Must be explosion-proof type (SCA explicitly states "nonexplosive type." Do not install ordinary industrial lamps). Especially for vessels carrying flammable cargo, ordinary lamps may produce electrical sparks, posing a hazard.

灯型：必须是防爆型（SCA 明确写“nonexplosive type”，别装普通工业灯），尤其是载易燃货物的船，普通灯可能产生电火花，引发危险。

 

Wing Bridge Searchlights

翼桥探照灯

 

Wing bridge searchlights ensure visibility to the sides. They are essential for seeing the banks when navigating narrow sections of the canal (e.g., the Great Bitter Lake channel) and during mooring. There are two core requirements:

翼桥探照灯是侧方视线的保障，过运河窄段（比如大苦湖通道）和系泊时，全靠它看清堤岸，核心要求2项：

 

Brightness & Distance: With an atmospheric transmission factor T=0.74, the illuminance at 200 meters must be 4 lux (four times brighter than the 1 lux requirement for the bow searchlight). This helps see details on the banks (e.g., mooring bollards, shallow areas). Insufficient brightness increases the risk of contact.

亮度&距离：在大气传递系数T=0.74时，200米处的照度得有4勒克斯（比船首探照灯的1勒克斯亮4倍），帮助看清堤岸的细节（比如系泊桩、浅滩），亮度不够容易擦碰；

 

Lamp Type: Similarly, must be explosion-proof type. They must be fixed at positions on both sides of the bridge wing with an unobstructed line of sight. Ensure the beam is not blocked by radar antennas, masts, etc.

灯型：同样必须是防爆型。且要固定在桥楼两侧视线无遮挡的位置。别被雷达天线、桅杆挡住光束。

 

Pre-Transit Reminders

过河前提醒

 

Before transiting the canal, it is recommended that shipowners and captains check three key points in advance: 1) Whether the bow searchlight certificate is on board and valid. 2) Test the searchlights (1800m, beam adjustment), overhead lights (200m), and wing bridge searchlights (4 lux at 200m) in advance. Rectify any issues found promptly. 3) Finally, check that cables are secured, vent hose is correctly positioned, and explosion-proof sockets are not loose.

过运河前，建议各位船东、船长提前检查三个关键点：船首探照灯的证书是否携带，是否在有效期内；提前测试探照灯（1800米、调光束）、高架灯（200米）、翼桥探照灯（200米处4勒克斯），如果发现问题应及时修改；最后检查电缆是否固定、透气孔软管位置是否正确、防爆插座有没有存在松动问题。

 

What may seem like minor details are actually crucial for a smooth transit. Facing various challenges during Suez Canal transit, E-PORTS provides comprehensive professional support and transit services for vessels. For more information on Suez Canal transit solutions or other services, please contact us via:

看似一些小事，其实都是过河的细节。针对苏伊士过河中的各项挑战，E-PORTS为苏伊士过河的船舶提供全方位专业支持与过河服务。若需要了解更多关于苏伊士过河方案或其它服务，可通过以下方式联系：

WhatsApp/WeChat: 13816101982

Email: contact@e-ports.com