ferry boat between Egypt and Turkey
 

so lets play that again
in the news there is a ferry RORO will arrive to Port Said in Egypt coming from Mersin in Turkey
the news says the ferry left already and will arrive on Sunday
i couldn't get any further details though !!
will keep you updated with more details

here is a translation by Google as i didn't find any in English

Up to Port Said on the first Sunday trips shipping line between Egypt and Turkey, which started from the port "Mersin" after signing a bilateral trade agreement which was concluded in the capital of Turkey, "Ankara".

Said Mohammed Abdo friend Amay - Head of the Egyptian Forum - Turkish - that the Convention include all arrangements for transport services and transit through the ports of both countries, as well as access to a third country, where Turkish trucks heading to the Gulf states after their arrival at Egyptian ports.
He added that the agreement achieves many advantages to Egypt is to support the Egyptian economy and contribute to the advantage of geographic location, and the development potential of Egypt has become a center for logistical globally, as well as the access of Egyptian exports to Turkey and through its territory to Russia and other markets of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and northern Iraq in a short time.


Read the original article on the electronic gate delegation delegation - Port Said Receives the first navigation flights between Egypt and Turkey

Hi there,
Yes, first ro-ro started in 26.04.2012.
I was waiting for this news for while. we will start our jouney in the mid of June. I heard it yesterday and checked it.

If someone need contact info urgently, I can give it personally.


Bst regards.

first RORO boat finally made it from Turkey to Egypt
 

OK finally there is a RORO boat between Egypt and Turkey
please see the attached link :D:clap::clap::clap:

Turkish trucks reach Egyptian Port Said by the first Ro-Ro ship | Economy | World Bulletin

This is indeed good news as I would like to go from Said to Turkey within the next month. If anybody has further news on how to book passage, please post.
Thanks
Mike

I am in Luxor now on a bike and would be very interested in taking this ferry to Turkey. Any updates or contact info would be greatly appreciated.

Mike,
I don't think anyone has yet posted the the specific agent/ contact info for
this RO-RO service in Port Said. You might try a PM to Omar Mansour, above,
or if not, try contacting the Turkey office of the RO-RO company:

MENA Lines
info@menalines.com
+90 212 246 4560
+90 533 730 7069

p.s. I was wrong, Egypt contacts are HUBB posted here (different sub-forum/ thread):
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...9-2#post368168

ALEXANDRIA agent...: Kadmar Shipping

alexandria
32.saad zaghloul str.
(203)4862832- 4860689-4840680/3 lines
fax (203)4848326
general@kadmar.com

Also has offices in...:
cairo
15 lebanon street,el mohandesein,cairo
20-(0)-233445734 and 33052284

port said
El mahrousa building, mahmoud sedkey and banama str
20-(0)-663344016 and 18 fax.17
20-(0)-663354330
portsaid@kadmar.com

Ferry to Egypt
 

Hi !

The vessel used by MENA-LINES is now ANNA MARINE. ( ex Stena Leader )

She´s today on the way back from PORT SAID to MERSIN - look at the itinerary .

Looking forward to hear the first comments from travellers ....

Ciao Hannes

PS : Video of Stena Leader

Hannes, this is the first proof that a ferry is actually running! My calls to the shipping company have been dead ends, but still trying. This is enough evidence for me to just drive up to Port Said and work it out there.

I will post what I find out.

M

Contact info
 

http://sogut.com/photos/alcor-roro-brosur-1.jpg
www.mega-mar.com.trhttp://sogut.com/photos/alcor-roro-brosur-1.jpg

I attached Company's brochure.
http://sogut.com/photos/alcor-roro-brosur-1.jpg

Bst regards

News
 

I love this post for I am looking for ways to get on from Egypt. Currently in Alexandria I visited the office of Kadmar Shipping as posted above. But Kadmar has nothing to do with the ship from Port Said. They try to set up a similar service from Alexandria to Mersin. As they say 'The service may start on May 25th'. Which would be awesome if you could trust that date. About the ship from Port Said they know nothing.

However, I called the number from the blue leaflet above (=20)3 4890300. This connected me to a different shipping agency and they are responsible for the ship from Port Said. It sails next on Monday 14th May. However, on the phone they could not tell me anything about the price or the arrangement for the bike. Only that there is not enough time for me to catch this Monday's boat due to the necessary paperwork. 'We call you back...'

However, the important point is: there is indeed a regular ferry service! Which is fantastic news.

Marco,

I am on your heels, in Hurghada. Don't think I will make the Monday ferry, but please post what you find out.

Mike

all you need is here
 

BikingMarco

I've started to reading your posts when I was in Ethiopia. I wanted to know about possibilities to cross The Mediterranean Sea. Now, I'm in Egypt and you are still there!!! It seems that you like Egypt and don't want to leave it at all! :) So I decided to go to Port Said and check it yourself.

So for you and any other travellers waiting for information:

The most important - the costs:

CAR

600 $ - car
350 $ - 1 person
750 EGP - agency fees
1500 EGP - customs and clearance


MOTORBIKE

400 $ for motorbike and 1 person
750 EGP agency fees
300 EGP - customs and clearance


COORDINATES to THE OFFICE IN PORT SAID

N31 15.668
E032 18.710

AGENT:

Nagger Shipping
e-mail: hend@aknaggar.com

NABIL ABOU EL KHEIR - MANAGER OF AL NAGGAR SHIPPING COMPANY
PHONE 066/3333865

I've talked with him personally - good and reliable - English so so.
You have to book in advance.

Next ferry from Port Said 18th of May!

ANNA MARINE VESSEL - current position coordinates:

Nazwa przesyłki, trasy dziennej statku - AIS Marine Traffic


Other alternatives:

1. ISRAEL - ITALY ferry (EUROmed - Grimaldi)- about 2000 EURO for the car and 2 passengers, including customs,clearance and agent fees.

or

2. CROSSING LIBYA - but today Libyan Embassy was closed and full of policemen surrounding the embassy. Sounds not good.

Also you can check TEMEHU.COM - Libyan travel agency. they can apply for the tourist visas on your behalf and you can pick it up at the border - costs about 110 EURO per person (if 4 people apply). For one person it is about 400 EURO. 7 working days.
And about 250 Euro for TUNIS-PALERMO ferry (car + 2 passengers - Grimaldi line) - twice a week.



Best

Arek
www.podniesinski.pl

exit Egypt
 

thanks Arek, great info.

I hope to take this ferry in august (going to Egypt) and it becomes
clear now.
take care--------------geert

Amazing News!!
 

This is great info an amazing news, as most overlanders I have spent ages trawling the internet to try and find a way from anywhere into Egypt! We are leaving for a trip from the UK to SA in July. Has anyone got any info on how to contact the shipping company at the Turkish side? Or any agent that can help? Have emailed info@menalines.com but don't seem to be getting a reply?

Also would be great to here from anyone that has managed the trip with exact costings.

Thanks all!

Gemma & Bryn
2doafrica 2doafica.com 2 do Africa

Hi !

East Route alternative EU > Africa opened ... :thumbup1:

Thanks to NOOR , a German Traveler who reported about his shipping from Mersin to PortSaid on 1.5.2012 with the ANNA MARINE .

Here are his statements (ex German Forum ), maybe useful for further plannings:

Trans. by GOOGLE :

On 1 May, 36 Turkish truck driver and I picked in the Anna M. departed from Mersin, on 3 May morning arrived at Port Said. The Russian crew of Captain Potaykin is great.

The trip for one person including HZJ and customs formalities in Turkey costs $ 850. The price included the cost of agents in Port Said.

Mersin: MEGAMAR, Camiserif Mah. Ismet Inonu Blv. Batihan Is Mrk. No. 90 Cat 4
Tel: 0324 238 48 10 Fax: 0324 238 71 83
Email: mersin@mega-mar.com.tr
Contact Persons: Mr. Celal (owner agent), Mr. Zafer (coordinator and extremely friendly), Mr. Ugur (marketing)

In Port Said we had something then not cope with the new situation , but the prob. was successful but timeconsuming (5 days) solved with the help of highly committed Eslam Mohamed Fathy, who promissed at the next time it will go faster then anything:
Egypt Container Line
Mr. Eslam Mohamed Fathy
Mobile: 0020 128 922 0002
Email: eslam_elshamaa@yahoo.com or
eslam_elshamaa@windowslive.com

Costs for customs clearance including license plates and ID in Port Said: 2800 EP (around $ 465)

So total is ~ 1315 .- from Mersin AND 5 days at Port Said ....:thumbdown:

I hope , that this border procedure will get faster in future with the arrival of more and more travellers .....

Greets H.

How long in terms of hours is the sailing from Turkey to Port Said??

(from the thread/ post immediately before your question:)

"On 1 May, 36 Turkish truck driver and I picked in the Anna M. departed from Mersin, on 3 May morning arrived at Port Said."

~ 36 hours ?

problems with CPD
 

I just want to tell other travellers that currently we are on board of Anna Marine and leaving Port Said.

3 days of painful waiting/settling the formalities by our agent (Naggar). The first day - police formalities, second day customs, last day immigration. And finally we didn't finish customs clearance and we are leaving Port Said without our carnet stamped!

First because it's Friday and customs office doesn't work. (Of course they worked yesterday but our agent couldn't finish custom formalities during one day!) Secondly and the most important is that customs said that they can't stamp our carnets until we leave Port Said first. So it means that we have to leave Port Said first and then they will stamp our carnets and our agent will send it to us (to Mersin via DHL)!! We couldn't believe! Because we were afraid of leaving our carnets unattended and without knowing when they send us our carnets back we decided to leave Egypt without our carnet stamped.


So be aware of this when you decide to take Anna Marine and use Naggar shipping company as your agent. They couldn't resolve this problem and told us about this issue just before departure! It seems that Naggar is unproffesional. (partially because we are the first their customers who want to cross Mediterranean Sea).

We just finishing our around the Africa trip and definitely it is the worst and the most time consuming border crossing ever. Mostly because of our agent and Egyptian procedures (or their laziness).

Arkadiusz

PS BikingMarco is also with us - the same story.

more info please
 

hi Arkadiusz
can you tell us please the price per person and a bike and any other costs ?
also contacts in Egypt to book the ferry
:scooter: thanks and safe trip

finally there is a ferry boat
 

good news :D :D
finally some bikers took the ferry from Port said and made it to Mersin in Turkey ,
i got some info from BIKINGMARCO i copy and paste



To book the ferry in Port Said you need to pay:
US$ 400 for ticket for one bike and one person
LE 750 commission for Naggar Shipping Company
LE 500 for Customs clearance

On arrival in Mersin the only thing you need to pay is Third Party Insurance for your bike. It costs 15 Turkish Lira for one months. If you, unlike many nationalities, need a visa it costs 15 Euro. No other costs occure on arrival.

Ferry
 

A turkish friend of me called to menalines today. They only transport trucks and containers. NO passengers and NO motorcycles. Damn! Damn! Damn!

But Menalines are not the ones operating the RoRo ferry between Mersin and Port Said, right?

Its really great and amazing while travelling there, I would like to have it...

Hi,
What are the others ones?
I'm not sure you can find now a ferry between Turkey and Egypt which carries cars with their passengers and with the possibility to disembark on an Egyptian port.
But I hope I'm wrong....:(
RR.

The ferry from Port Said and Mersin (and return) is running fine and is taking passengers and cars/bikes. The agent in Ports SAid in Naggar (easy to find the details if you google it). The price is quite prohibitive imo as we've just been quoted 800USD for 2 pers and 1 bike + ~330 commission and custom clearance.
Cheers,
Ion

Are you sure Mr White, about transportation of cars with their passengers on this ferry?
And are you speaking about Mena lines?

Because a Turkish man of my friends had phoned to Mena about our transportation (Cars+People) and they replied that this ferry only:( carry lorries with they drivers + "containers".

RR.

It seems that the ferry operating between Mersin and Port Said has been changed by its Russian operator AnRussTrans. Instead of the smaller "Anna Marine", the line is now served by the larger "Apollonia" (the former Swedish "Götaland"). This definitely is a passenger ferry and not anymore a pure truck ferry as you can see from these images:

Facts and pics of "Apollonia" on The ferry Site


Greetings
Achim

Thanks.
So it's not Mena Lines.
Can you tell me where it's possible to make reservations (it's for March 2013)?

RR.

Hello,

i think here you can make reservations
Mersin: MEGAMAR, Camiserif Mah. Ismet Inonu Blv. Batihan Is Mrk. No. 90 Kat 4
Tel: 0324 238 48 10 Fax: 0324 238 71 83
Mail: mersin@mega-mar.com.tr
I called them but the women at the telefon she doesnt speak English.Me i dont speak turkish.

Mike

Thanks again, I'm going to try to contact again somebody speaking Turkish...
TT.

Very Interesting
 

There are a few of us watching this post . We are hoping to ship mid to late August 2012. could you please let us now how you get on and any contact who speaks English with whom we can book. We have followed up the links and agree with Mr White the Ro Ro is running and has left for Port Said from Mersin here is the link of its details and possition. You can find it on Marine traffic .com
APOLLONIA - Vessel's Details and Current Position - 7229514 - 21481620
Good luck with the contact
Many thanks
Diana and Colin

Turkey-Egypt-Sudan-Ethopia
 

I plan to hop on this ferry in September/October this year and looking for any information. Also I have space in my car for some passengers)

And hoping that you can hop on this ferry with your car and your passengers:innocent:
I have the same plan for March 2013
RR.

All thanks go to Belgium Biker.Bert Houben..Only mersin Port Said available and he has done it currently.Link to the thread that has all the information and tips...
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...gypt-new-63995

Thanks Bisiklet, I didn't know this forum before!

RR.

Hi H
do you know if you can also take you car with you in this ferry? I would like to travel over sea to Egypt and take my car with me to continue traveling to Jordan.

Greets!

To Jordan?
 

If you want to avoid the hassle in Egypt and Jordan is your destination, why not take the ferry from Monfalcone (Italy) to Ashdod or Haifa (Israel) and cross the border Israel – Jordan at Allenby / King Hussein Bridge ?

See: cargo ship cruises

Because I want to go to Sudan after Egypt....

RR.

Hi Guys,

We have taken the ferry from Mersin to Port Said.
Finally got the vehicle through customs today.

We have posted all the details on a different thread:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...pt-new-63995-2

In total we paid $1380 to get from Mersin to Port Said (this includes all customes duties, taxes and what ever else they can think of at the port)

Looking back, I would go through Libya!!
You'll have an armed guard escort you through the country and I have been told by some friends that have just gone through, that it was brilliant.

Any questions, feel free to drop me a message!

Thanks a lot for your report 2toAfrica!
The only pb seems the price...

RR.

[... What about ferries to Israel from Cyprus or Greece, then Sinai into Egypt? I suspect an Egyptian land border may be better than a port and as it's been there lately, they may even wish you hurry you through...]


Ferry from Cyprus? Is that feasible / available Chris? Who runs it / any idea how to book?
Reason for asking, we're supposed to be taking off to Africa in a Defender late spring 2013 but need to be in Cyprus for a month first. Was starting to panic about having to 'brave' the Turkey / Egypt ferry. Ferry Cyprus to Israel sounds like a good plan.
Any problems with having Israel stamp in the passport?

Isn't it mentioned here somewhere?
AFAIR reading, you ferry from Turkey to North Cyprus, cross to the other Cyprus and ferry on to Haifa, I think it was.
I believe there is also a Greece to Israel ferry but it's expensive.

In Israel they can stamp a loose bit of paper I am told. The Egyptians obviously dont mind and I think the Sudanese will only pick up on it (clocking your Egypt entry point...) if they want trouble. Which normally they don't.

Ch

Thanks, I'll look into it. Cant be much more than the Turkey / Egypt ferry surely? $900+!
What's AFAIR?
Scott

$900 one way is a lot. I've paid the same to Tunis and back, but that is a busier route and I recall someone mentioning 1000 € to get out of israel this year - possibly to Greece. May be worthwhile as fuel is so expensive in Turkey and if it is Mersin port, that is a 1000 mile drive in Tk.

(As far as I remember)

Thanks Chris. It all sounds pricey - I guess thats the Egypt route for you!
Main criteria has to be ease and lack of hassle.
Which route would you recommend to South? East coast or West? Ultimately I think we'll do a full circuit, but I'm a bit concerned about East coast visas / politics etc.
I was thinking of posting a general question (unless you know of a thread?).
Scott
AFAIR - nice. Sorry, but of a web numpty.

We looked long and hard and made many enquiries on the ground before our journey last November and only came up with Italy/Israel by ship (this was last year pre Mersin/Alex). Grimaldi ships dock at Gemlik and Limassol en route to (but not from) Israel. BUT they don't allow embarkation or disembarkation with a vehicle at either.You dock in Israel at Asdod (or Haifa in theory - in practice they usually sail right past Haifa...). The Med line then also goes on to Alex but again nothing/no-one allowed off the ship there.

Entering Israel you can indeed request they stamp a piece of paper instead of your passport but unfortunately the importation of a vehicle requires a stamp in your passport so you can't travel under the radar, which will potentially give you problems further on ie Sudan.

Israel/Italy was c. 365 euro for a Land Rover and c. 300 euro each for 2 people in a cabin. Cabins, food etc all v. good (free wine and so on). 5 days at sea.

But traveling south for now I think the Mersin/Alex is your only option by ship if you want to travel down the east coast.

Sorry to sound naieve but, if we had 2nd passport that Isreal stamp was put in, do you mean that there isn't a ferry we could get off in Isreal and then drive through to Egypt?
Is the only option to get off at Alex and deal with that hassle?

Don't forget the CDP (carnet de passage en douane)
It's mandatory for Egypt and Sudan and you can see on it which borders posts you have crossed... And at Sudan's border post they also can watch for this point and see you have entered Egypt from Israel and then don't let you in.
RR.

Roro is right.

You don't need a carnet for Israel but your port of entry into Egypt will be recorded. Now possibly you can go Israel - Jordan - Egypt and muddy the water but if anyone asks you to demonstrate how you got there you may have a problem. Or you may be able to blag it.

Thanks, its not going to be easy either way.
Sounds like it may need more luck than judgement.
We're not expecting to have to leave Europe till next May / June so i'll have to keep monitoring the ferries and the Libya route.
Shame, we'll be in Cyprus with the car next spring anyway and ferry from there would be perfect.
If you hear any updates please let us know.
Scott

Ferry turkey - egypt with our land rover
 

Hi,
We're planning to Travel Bristol - Capetown down the East side at the start of next year.
Need more info about this 'Roro' Ferry from Mersin to Port Said.... Is it possible to book this before we go/ has anyone had any contact with a ferry company that would make this possible!? Not sure we want to just turn up in mersin hoping it will work with Libya or Syria looking like dead ends!
Any comments at all would be grand!
Anneka and Harry

Just taken ferry Turkey-Egypt
 

We've just been through the process of getting us (2 people) and our Landrover from Iskendrum (Turkey) to Port Said. The Wyndleys in another Landrover & Frank on a bike have done the same. Here's what we did:
(Benandjenadventures.wordpress.com)

Ferry Booking

Currently there is no ferry between Mersin and Egypt. There is a talk of a new ferry starting sometime in Oct/ Nov according to Megamar and Alcor Shipping
Instead the route is from Iskendrum, operated by www.sisashipping.com/ Kadmar Shipping (sisa agents in Turkey, Kadmar agents in Egypt)
The boat is scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday departures, leaving at 12:00 with a 19 hour crossing (actually took us 2 nights which seems normal)
There is an online booking from on Sisa’s website but as we couldn’t read Turkish or see any confirmation of prices so we decided to head for Iskendrum and arrange things face to face
We spoke to Saba at Sisa Shipping before arriving in Iskendrum, she is very helpful and speaks good English, her contact details are saba.ipek@sisashipping.com +90 (216) 444 2954.
We learnt from the Wyndleys that it’s possible to book directly with Sisa via a bank transfer if you contact Saba
If you’d rather do things face to face then Remon Travel in Iskendrum can book tickets they are one road up off the sea front – Savas Mah. Maresal Cakmak CD No 16 Zemin Kat. Tel +90 (326) 614 10 12. If they try and ask you for a further $50 to start the Customs process a day early to ensure you don’t miss the ferry decline their offer of help. We had no issues by sorting it out ourselves on the day of travel
We paid $260 for the 2 of us plus $460 for our Disco (total $720), this was without a cabin as this would have totalled $1200.
Iskendrum Parking

There are a few secure parking sites around, we used one quite close to the port, not far from the police station and it seemed pretty good with fences, gates, cctv and big dogs. 7.5 TL/night
GPS Co-ordinates are N36 35.384 E36 10.742
Iskendrum Port

On the day of travel you need to go the Port Gate B. This is just off the main road as you go into town and is signed as Liman B (you’ll see the road is kind of divided by concrete barriers and the side nearest the sea and railway track is where you need to be)
We got all the car/ customs paperwork sorted by being whizzed from one side of the port to the other. We were not asked to pay anything here.
There’s a lot of waiting around so take some food!
A guy without any uniform or ID arrived mid afternoon to take the passports away in a big box. They were retuned later complete with exit stamps
Ferry crossing

We finally left at 21:25
On getting on the boat everyone had to hand their passports over for Egyptian police
We were also called to the Reception desk mid afternoon on day 2 and asked to pay$83 for the car being taken into Egypt. The guys behind the desk did appear to be Egyptian Port Officials/ Police and also had our passports. They also issued a receipt, this was needed later.
We had to spend a second night on board and then docked at about 06:00 the following morning and got the car off the boat shortly afterwards. We then spent 8 hours on the boat waiting for our passports to be returned complete with entry stamps (everyone on board did the same).
Try and have some food for this last day as no food is served on the boat
We had already got Visas before we travelled so I’m not sure what the process would be if you plan to get them on arrival (Others said it was sorted on the boat)
Total time from Port entrance to Port exit (with the car still in the port) - 2.5days.
Ask for “Customs (Gomrok) garage”, leave vehicle there.
Customs & Carnet – Port Said

Customs is closed on Fridays and Saturdays so you may want to opt for a Saturday sailing to avoid delays in Port Said
We used a fixer guy from the Port called Eslam Elshamaa, his details are – Tel 002 0128 9220 002, email eslam_elshamaa@yahoo.com. I liked him a lot, he knew what he was doing and was nice to deal with, he sorted the following…..
Day 1 AM - The $83 receipt from the boat was used to get documents from Kadmar Shipping to give the shipping number for the car and the whole load.
Day 1 AM – Went to port office to get a pass to re-enter the port
Day 1 PM – Customs office in port organising papers, many papers! (close at 2:30)
Day 2 AM – Customs office again to get paperwork & Carnet sorted
Day 2 PM – Transport office in port to get car license, other office outside port to get number plates. Return to Garage to pay garage fee & ollect vehicle.
For our Landrover Disco total payments were 2800Egyption Pounds (£280 uk) + whatever you agree as payment for the fixer. Get your fixer to break down the cost for you before you start the process.
There aren’t any secure parking facilities in Port Said so we hunted down a hotel for $50 which had parking, it’s on the main road by the beach. Noras Style Beach Hotel (the only white a blue hotel)

Thanks doe the info!

It seems going from Port Said to Turkey is the headache wrt Egyptian officials and paper work

Hi,

We are booked onto the ferry for the 20/10/12. We booked it in Istanbul by popping into their offices and they seemed very organised and professional. It cost us $720 dollars for 2 people and one heavily laden Land Rover 110. The nice lady at Sisa shipping promised me it was 5 stars accommodation too.....

Regards,

Johnny and Lizzie (on our way to Cape Town).

YES! it is absolutely horrible and very costly.
We start day 4 now... and no stamps on the carnets yet!


(also, the ferry is not allowed into port because a fishing boat sank in the port and they are looking for it)

Full reviews posted on this topic
 

Go here for some up to date reviews on how to make this journey:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...kenderum-66987

Further Iskenderun customs detail
 

Thanks to Ben for the write up above, very helpful!

We took the ferry this weekend, and had a bit more of a difficult time in Turkish customs, so thought I would post some more detail (see below).

Also, please note, this ferry is now going to Port Damietta (not sure if this is permanent), about 40 mins away from Said, but obviously all the processes this end are slightly different.

Just going through the fixer process now, will post an update when I'm done...

Iskenderun Customs:

The optional $60 charge by Remon travel to navigate customs is exorbitant, but you need to bear in mind that nearly everyone else just pays it, so there is no system / support for those who don’t

Some notes which should help you navigate:

You need to secure 2 stamps in your passport before you can join the ferry

- The customs stamp (car owner only)
- Visa exit stamp

The process you need to follow after arrival at Liman B (to be safe I would aim to be there by c.9am on the day of departure – even though the ferry is unlikely to depart before dark, it will be easier to get the paperwork done earlier in the day):
- Arrive at gate and park up behind the portacabins
- Take car insurance / ownership docs and passports to customs official (light blue uniform)
- He will review these docs, check over the car, and then will probably get security to escort you to where you will wait for the ferry (these security guards are from a company called Securitas and wear white uniforms)

Once at this car park, expect no more help / direction, you are on your own!

From around 9.30am, you will start to see a medium sized blue bus running people back and forth (it may park behind the waiting room building so keep a keen eye)

Get on this bus with all your documents, it will run back the way you came, past the Liman B entrance, and over to Liman A

There, exit the bus, show the guards your passports and ask for customs / Gumruk

You will then need to walk away from the port for c.5 mins, before taking the first right, follow this around until you see a very tall building with a blue frontage – customs is located on the 9th floor (this is open 9-5, with an hour closure for lunch 12-1 – it’s also outside the port complex, so you could probably have a go the day before)

Show your insurance, ownership docs and passport here to get a customs exit stamp

Return to your car via the same bus

You will then need to get a visa exit stamp from the police – here we showed our passports without a stamp, and were ushered off to the right place, but if that doesn't work, the police are in the furthest office at the back of the block of buildings where the waiting rooms are (about 5 mins walk)

These guys speak a bit of English, and are helpful, but for some reason wear no uniforms

After that, follow the crowd / Ben's directions and you’ll be fine!

Egyptian Customs in Damietta
 

To follow up on the above, re fixers.

The ferry now appears to be going to Damietta, instead of Port Said. I’ve no idea how long this will continue.

We used Eslam, as recommended above, who charged us 3500 EP, and had a few issues with him. We eventually had to wait 4 working days to get our car through customs. To be fair to him Damietta is not his territory, and he doesn’t know anyone, so the work is a lot more difficult (plus the process generally seems to take a lot longer there). However, he was dishonest with us on what he would do and when, a few times, and hard to get hold of when critical deadlines approached.

The main man in Damietta, seems to be a bloke called Yasser. Eslam ended up outsourcing a lot of the work to him. Unfortunately, I lost his business card with number, etc, but he was there when the boat arrived to meet it, just try to have a look for him when you’re waiting to drive to the customs garage (he’ll probably approach you). He speaks excellent English, and I think he’s a good guy (though obviously ultimately it did take him / Eslam 4 days to get the car through). He offered us 2500 EP at the port for his services (a fact we mentioned to Eslam when we got poor service), though he later told us that was a quote for ‘lost cause’ cases at the port who he thinks are already using someone, so you’d have to see what happened in practice.

I would give him a go, if landing in Damietta though.

PS if you get stuck in Damietta for more than one night, move out to a place call Ras El Bar (about 20 mins away – 50 EP in a cab if you negotiate well), it’s a tourist resort for Egyptians, and has a few hotels, and a strip of restaurants (much nicer than Damietta). We stayed at Al Tayatran on 38th and Nile St, which was pretty nice for 200 EP per night, for an apartment which slept up to 4.

(Cross posts) Egypt-Turkey ferry
 

Because the current Egypt-Turkey ferry situation is so fluid, and on-the-ground
folks are posting in different sub-forums, it might also be helpful to see this:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...kenderum-67637

does anyone have an update on the situation on the ferry from turkey to Egypt is it still opperating

Iskenderun ferry
 

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...

Port Said
 

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

Ferry to Egypt
 

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

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

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

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

Thanks.Great help.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Port and customs are some north of the city..

İskenderun Limanı Haritası Çay Mh. İskenderun Hatay

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!

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

We did have a wait in the end 3 days, they seem to wait until there is a enough cargo to sail the ferry so I would ignore the posted wed/sat sailing days, it also took nearly 2 days from boarding to arriving in port said. Arrived in the port after calling remon travel each day, then waited all day till 10 pm boarded but didnt sail until 7 the next morning. We were kept well fed though onboard.
We were in no rush but just to let people know to expect a fair wait if they time it wrong. Some other guys here were waiting 8 days just to get on the boat.
Also it really only seems possible to get tickets through remon travel we paid $740 for 2 people + car. Did our own customs and police bit which took an hour max and wasnt to hard. As others have said get into port at the gate marked liman B there are some paper work checks here then park up and get the white transit that flies about it goes south all the way to the other gate, leave the port here then go down the road right then left to blue building 9th floor and get your customs stamp. see gps coordinates above. Back to your car and all the way north past the dubious passenger terminal the far side of the last building is police. All were helpfull some with very good english.
Later the small guy from remon turned up and got a bit arsy saying next time he would do it or something. We didnt get to put our passports in the big cardboard box! But did see it the floor.

We were the lads waiting for 8 days superbc referred to.

Arrived early on a Tuesday and were told Wednesday's ferry was full. Given tickets for sundays ferry. (maybe saturday, maybe Monday).
Rang Friday as instructed and given definite for Tuesday. Arrived port tuesday 9am. Confirmed no ferry at 12. Wednesday confirmed definite!
Rang wednesday and confirmed Thursday.
Spotted the ferry at anchor Wednesday morning. Vessel was UK registered aqua hercules (samc on side).
Confirmed Thursday morning but no time. We went to port at 11 anyway and were admitted.

Quick check at liman b gate. Directed to security hut across from waiting room.

Security rang Ibrahim from remon but we told them we were okay and got bus to liman a (very easy to spot)

Had a small bit of difficulty getting out liman a gate but friendly customs helped us with their inquisitive superior.

Walk to customs (coords given previously). The lad we dealt with had exceptional english and translated for the man with the stamp. This was my second visit and they were welcoming on both occasions.

Back to car. Walked to police. North facing door on the northernmost building behind the waiting room. Marked polis on door. Very helpful in there too. Stamps no problem.

Later we were approached by Ibrahim. We told him we had our stamps. He wasnt pleased that we hadn't used his services. Later he demanded our passports and we eventuslly gave them to him. He came back with another policeman in his car who checked us against our passports before returning them. (he did this for the Syrians Ibrahim was looking after too)

On the positive side:A dutch lad Marc arrived on Thursday and got his ticket for the ferry.


Ferry:
Finally boarded approx 10pm
Dinner on board (all meals very good)
Ferry sailed at 7am
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Breakfast, lunch
Arrival Port Said approx 7pm Saturday (day and a half after sailing.


Eslam the fixer boarded the ferry in Port Said. We agreed e£3000 with him per jeep (3 jeeps). Drove in convoy to port gate.

Stayed in la poste (as the owner says its cheap for them its cheap for us). E£135 for a triple room.

Picked up by eslams colleague Sunday and tried to get bill of lading. No joy. Tea and WiFi in elsergany cafe just across from port gate.

Monday met by eslams brother Karim and got taxi to elsergany (e£5 for taxi). Cars out of port at approximately 4pm.

Important info about ferry Egypt - Turkey
 

*also posted in another thread..*

Hey Guys!

We're now sitting in Port Said waiting for the ferry that should take us to Iskenderum. Unfortunately, we've just received an email from Sisa shipping telling us that because of the unrest in Egypt, the Ferry will be redirected to Duba in Saudi Arabia. They may or may not come back to Port Said one last time to pick up already booked customers.

They did not give us any dates, but I'll update as soon as I know more.

Espen & Malin
www.unurban.no

Hey!

Did you managed to leave Egipt? We were also planing to enter Egipt (Port Said) with a RO-RO ship from Turkey (Iskendrun). In the news we read that the Line is suspended (in the link uder the text). Any ideas if this line will work again? Any other possibility from Turkey to Egipt?

Turkey suspends navigational lines with Egypt due to “financial constraints” - Daily News Egypt

Simon and Ivana
Pot okoli sveta

Hi Simon,

As far as I know my only option was Greece-Israel. Its easy to travel through the 2 countries to Egypt. Taba border was also a breeze on the Egypt side. $80 bucks and 3 hours all done!

Company for greece shipping is Salamis lines.

Hi VanGS,

When did you made this crossing? Did you ship the bike via a ferry or in a container? I just found that the ferry lines were suspended in 2011.

Thank you for the information.

Regards, Simon

Its a roro leaving from Lavrio. Offices are in Pireus. Other overlanders booked for may so I am sure its still on.

I took it a week ago.

Hi

What about the Sudan Visa in Assuan ???

Any problems with passport and Carnet de Passages showing the Israel entry ?

Thanks and safe travel
TuA

miles-to-ride.com

I would also very much know about carnet... Regarding importing vehicle to israel, did u need a second passport?


Steven

Wheel Wishers
www.wheelwishers.org

Hi Guys,

No carnet for Isreal needed.
If you explain to them that you dont want a stamp they will stamp on a piece of paper, but i know a guy thats been to Isreal and got to Sudan. They asked what he did there and he just said he was in transit. Visa seems very easy to get in Aswan.

Sudan is lovely. Remember to use Kamal in Aswan and Mazar in Halfa. Top guys! I sat under a tree most of the day while they ran around. First fixers for me and no regret. Would have been a pain in the arse to drive up an down Aswan ad would have spent more that 150E£ I paid them.

When we went via Israel we didn't use the carnet but Customs did insist on recording the importation of the car in the drivers passport. It's quite obvious as it's in Hebrew. We were heading north so it wasn't really an issue. Israel had many good points but it was very expensive and importing a vehicle isn't much fun (unload/detach everything and very extensive searches - 8 hours in total). Not necessarily any easier and almost certainly a more expensive option than Egypt.

It used to be an option but isn't any more as there is no ferry to Egypt from Turkey presently.It is Hobson's choice.

no ferry anymore
 

Hi

I just read at the german wuestenschiff.de forum, there will be no ferry anymore .... instead, the turkish truckers are using a new RoRo route through the Suez channel directly to Saudi Arabia ....

So, right now there are 2 options left to get to Eastafrica ...

1. shipping from Greece to Israel-Jordan- ferry -Egypt - Sudan

2. Iran - ferry - UAE/Oman - Saudi Arabia and then either drive to Jordan or ferry to Port Sudan (but the SA embassy in Abu Dhabi issues only visa for residents)

Good Luck for everybody

TuA

miles-to-ride.com

If Israel is indeed the best/only option (I suspect Saudi will be much more challenging) I'm pretty sure you can still ship to Israel from Italy too (Grimaldi Freighter Cruises). Frustratingly the ship docks at lots of places en route (Piraeus, Limassol, Gemlik) but doesn't allow cars to be loaded/unloaded at most ports. It also goes to Alex after Ashdod but won't let cars off there either.

I suppose there is a possibility of trying to persuade them ... it may also be worth asking the question re a bike as opposed to a car.

I phoned Sisa shipping today and they told me that they are trying they're best to re-activate the ferry as fast as possible. They were talking about a week or maybe two. Let's say one month, do we believe it? :nono::nono:

But no other good options...:thumbdown:

we are looking to enter N Africa at the end of August and are currently getting quotes for a 20ft container from Mersin to Port Sudan. It would be a shame to miss Egypt (but have been there before) but this way we avoid the potential problems of Israeli stamps.

We currently have estimates from a Turkish shipping agent and a Sudanese shipping agent. Some details yet to finalise, but could enquire about a 40ft container if anyone is interested in sharing (or may be able to squeeze a bike into the 20ft container with our car.

It seems that there still is one company sailing between Turkey and Egypt, it is called U.N. Ro-Ro

This is the page which announced the sailing last Wednesday from Iskenderun to Damietta:

http://www.unroro.com.tr/TR/NEWS/default.asp?fId=298

This is what they wrote to a Swiss overlander:


The rate for a vehicle (size unspecified) is 450 $ plus fees. Cabin space is limited to a few truck drivers, but the company offers a direct flight from Hatay (Antakya) to Damietta in Egypt with Air Cairo at 150 $.

Greetings,
Achim

did you manage to cross?
 

Hi! my name is martin carrara and im trying also to get to africa from either turkey or greece to either egypt or sudan... if you havent done the trip yet im also interested in sharing the container with you, i have a jeep less than 5m long, if you did crossed already, can you tell me all about the experience: costs and paperwork? thanks and hope to hear from you soon!

Hi,
What about the Iskenderun to Damietta service? (received this mail last week from unroro):

Hello

We have service frm İskenderun to damietta , you should check sailing dates frm us ,
The expenses will be ;

Freight rate usd 400.- fios o/w
Fyi , Travel on board is not avaliable for passangers,

Saygılarımızla / B Regards

Filiz Çolak| Commercial Department

Hi Martin. Unfortunately we were running out of time and, due to the time it would take to get visas for Sudan (plus the continuing problems in Egypt), we decided to ship the car to Cape Town and start our trip in the south.
The most helpful people we found for shipping to Sudan were Darka Sudan (I posted some information in this thread.....
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...lternate-71710
If you end up going the Israel route, I read somewhere on the HUBB that there are now difficulties getting 4x4s into Egypt at Nuweiba. It may be worth checking up on that also.
Sorry we can't help with the container.
Good luck with your plans.
Scott

hey thanks so much for the info, i will check it out!

hi scott! thanks for the fast reply, i will check out the sudan option also with the damietta one, i think there is also an oportunity to go from iran to dubai then oman and from there to sudan... anyway, thanks!

Please let me know if the Iskenderun to Damietta ferry worked for you... (if you go that way)..

Ferry Iskenderun Turkey - Alexandria Egypt
 

There is currently (oct. 2013) ONE option.
Click here to read.
Wkr. Joakim Larsen

Hi, Look here: Breakthrough! | My Ethiopian Connection
With kind regards
Joakim Larsen