ferry boat between Egypt and Turkey

[bazyr]

Hi all

I was following this thread a few months ago while planning my trip. I'm hoping to drive from the UK to South Africa in a Toyota Hilux. The ferry seems the best solution for getting into Egypt and on go the East Coast.

I'm currently in Greece on my way across to Iskenderun. I had replies to my emails from one of the ferry operators, Sisa, a few months ago, but nothing since.

Does anyone have any updates? If not, I guess I'll find out in a few days either way...

[bazyr]

Hey all

Sisa Shipping still operating their Iskenderun - Port Said route. No fixed schedule, around 20hr crossing with at least a 6hr wait each side (Iskenderun departure was confirmed 9am on the day and we didn't leave port until around 2130)

Cost was 780USD for one <5m car and one seat (more for a cabin) direct from Remon Travel in Iskenderun. Sisa themselves no longer seem to accept bank transfers as earlier reported. It's easy to reach someone who speaks English over the phone, but all they'll do is give you the details of Remon Travel, their agent in Iskenderun.

It's now day 3 in Port Said and am still trying to get the car out of the port. Will post more details once I'm done, am on my smartphone at a coffeeshop with wifi by the port (Elsergany café 31N 15.602' 32E 18.242')

Found and used Eslam as fixer based on other posts online and recommendation from a Brit/SA couple we met going the other way, but so far would not recommend. I negotiated on behalf of myself and a pair of Italians on a touring bike (Claudia il Viaggio), and Eslam agreed to 2500LE each. He's since reverted to his 3500 price with no recollection of our agreement, and is trying to hit the Italians with another 500LE because the bike owner name is apparently wrong on the shipping manifest, if an Excel with only one name on it in the shipping office here counts as a shipping manifest. I know others have had good experiences with him, but I've been slowly losing my patience.

Anyway - least I'm here in one piece!

Ben
Homepage

[Atlas]

Please keep us posted.I do that trip in August.Do you stay with your vehicle at night while trying to clear it ?

[wearthefoxhat]

Hi Ben, good luck with getting the car out. Did you pay Remon Travel in cash then (USD or Euros)? shame if they wont take bank transfers. Also, could you let us have an address / coordinates for their office where you got the tickets?

Atlas, when are you travelling (and what are you riding / driving)? We are currently on the road and hoping to get into Turkey to take the boat around end August / early September. Would also be interested to find out how you get on with your plans.
Regards
Scott

[Atlas]

Hi Scott,
I will be driving a VW T5 with roof rack and roof box.Cape Town registration.I would like details of your entry into Egypt as I dread it ! I will only be there in mid to late August. Have had a look at your,very nice, website and will keep following.
I hope to launch ours by weekend.
Stan

[bazyr]

Hi guys

Car's out! Took two full days.

Atlas - they don't let you stay with your vehicle, although I saw truckers eating brekkie by their trucks the following day, so it may be possible. I stayed at delaposte hotel, short walk from port and LE95 a night. I assume Eslam got a cut.

wearthefoxhat - Nice site! Makes me wish I'd spent longer in Turkey... Remon only accept cash, I was hoping for the bank transfer so I ended up going to ATMs and paying in local, but they definitely take USD. Their office is 36N 35.518' 36E 10.089, glass fronted with red-on-white writing.

In brief, this is what happened:

- Book ticket via Remon
- Arrive Remon 9am every day to check when ferry departs
- On third day, told ferry departing. Drive in convoy to port ~10am
- Give passport, car insurance and registration documents to a fat guy who speaks no English
- Wait at port for ~10 hours
- Man with cardboard box containing passports eventually appears. Retrieve passport and papers.
- Load car onto ferry. Wait another 3-4 hours before ferry departs.
- Hand passport over again to reception desk in ferry when tannoyed.
- Dinner, lunch and dinner served in canteen on ferry. Tea/snacks available to buy.
- Arrive Port Said ~10pm)
- Still no passport. Reception explains Egyptian customs will board ferry to process this.
- Tannoyed to move car, unload car to dock.
- Re-board ferry, retrieve passport, pay for visa.
- Once all vehicles unloaded, leave dock in convoy.
- Pass through strange cursory customs inspection.
- Park car in secure carpark.
- Leave port complex, stay in hotel (now ~2am)
- Collected by fixer, taken to shipping company office (in building opposite port entrance on main road)
- Photocopies of passport, car registration for "bill of leaving" to remove car from port
- Go to parking facility in port, find smiling little man who loves Toyotas to take imprints of engine and chassis number
- Go to office in port, leave carnet de passage and fixer fills in form, no-one willing to explain details
- Unable to do anything else until bill of leaving ready
- Next day return to shipping office, pay for and eventually receive bill of leaving
- Take to port offices, buy insurance, rent license plates etc (fixer did this)
- Retrieve car, fit plates, hit road

Top Tips:
- pack a bag with food/drink/book/blanket before heading to the port
- if you're a diesel, consider filling your tank in Turkey if you want a quick getaway. Fuel's government subsidised and much cheaper in Egypt, but there are severe shortages, especially for diesel

[Atlas]

Thanks.Great help.

[roro]

Originally Posted by bazyr

Hi guys

Car's out! Took two full days.

Atlas - they don't let you stay with your vehicle, although I saw truckers eating brekkie by their trucks the following day, so it may be possible. I stayed at delaposte hotel, short walk from port and LE95 a night. I assume Eslam got a cut.

wearthefoxhat - Nice site! Makes me wish I'd spent longer in Turkey... Remon only accept cash, I was hoping for the bank transfer so I ended up going to ATMs and paying in local, but they definitely take USD. Their office is 36N 35.518' 36E 10.089, glass fronted with red-on-white writing.

In brief, this is what happened:

- Book ticket via Remon
- Arrive Remon 9am every day to check when ferry departs
- On third day, told ferry departing. Drive in convoy to port ~10am
- Give passport, car insurance and registration documents to a fat guy who speaks no English
- Wait at port for ~10 hours
- Man with cardboard box containing passports eventually appears. Retrieve passport and papers.
- Load car onto ferry. Wait another 3-4 hours before ferry departs.
- Hand passport over again to reception desk in ferry when tannoyed.
- Dinner, lunch and dinner served in canteen on ferry. Tea/snacks available to buy.
- Arrive Port Said ~10pm)
- Still no passport. Reception explains Egyptian customs will board ferry to process this.
- Tannoyed to move car, unload car to dock.
- Re-board ferry, retrieve passport, pay for visa.
- Once all vehicles unloaded, leave dock in convoy.
- Pass through strange cursory customs inspection.
- Park car in secure carpark.
- Leave port complex, stay in hotel (now ~2am)
- Collected by fixer, taken to shipping company office (in building opposite port entrance on main road)
- Photocopies of passport, car registration for "bill of leaving" to remove car from port
- Go to parking facility in port, find smiling little man who loves Toyotas to take imprints of engine and chassis number
- Go to office in port, leave carnet de passage and fixer fills in form, no-one willing to explain details
- Unable to do anything else until bill of leaving ready
- Next day return to shipping office, pay for and eventually receive bill of leaving
- Take to port offices, buy insurance, rent license plates etc (fixer did this)
- Retrieve car, fit plates, hit road

Top Tips:
- pack a bag with food/drink/book/blanket before heading to the port
- if you're a diesel, consider filling your tank in Turkey if you want a quick getaway. Fuel's government subsidised and much cheaper in Egypt, but there are severe shortages, especially for diesel

Yes , great report but can you give us the duration of waiting, especially without your car on ports.
How many days for the whole schedule?
Thanks in advance,

RR

[bazyr]

Hi Roro

Ferry schedule seems very fluid so expect to spend a few days in Iskenderun. On day of sailing, I arrived at port 10am, loading of trucks commenced late afternoon , and we set sail maybe 9 or 10pm. Arrived Port Said 8pm following day, didn't leave port complex (without car) until 2am, and finally drove off with car evening of the third day in Port Said.

[SuperBC]

Good info thanks, we are heading down to cross in a few weeks so glad it is definately running. Also I had heard about fuel shortages in egypt, but any more info if there are problems getting diesel would be good. Cheers

[BikingMarco]

Originally Posted by bazyr

In brief, this is what happened:
...

Sounds epic! Hope you weren't in a hurry...

[tadhg123]

Hello everyone,

Currently in iskunderun awaiting this weekends ferry. Booked in person with Remon travel. We tried Wednesday's ferry on Tuesday but completely full. Recommend ringing remon or sisa in advance.

My question is does anybody know which street the customs building is on? Plenty of signs for liman b but none for liman a to get us started. Want to try it tomorrow in case it is closed at the weekend.

[Mehmet Zeki Avar]

Port and customs are some north of the city..

İskenderun Limanı Haritası Çay Mh. İskenderun Hatay

[tadhg123]

Thanks Mehmet,

Found the Customs building and Liman A (No Signs). They are quite close to the Oto park Ben described and Customs is the building next to the Police Station (Tinted Glazed façade with blue trim as per Jimmys post)

Liman A

Latitude N 36.590720
Longitude E 36.183292

Customs Building:

Latitude N 36.589969
Longitude E 36.177072

T.C. Hatay Valiliği

Very helpful inside and decent English. Customs is open Saturday and Sunday and the car must be in the Port before it can be stamped out so you can't have a go the day before.

Hope this helps someone else!

[SuperBC]

Helps us thanks, going in tomorrow to see the next sailing we can get on. Although from what I can make out of their online booking system the next dep might actually be tomorrow, I think we may have a wait..... Ah well