Canal changes make rules

Press, 14 January 1987, Page 9

Canal changes make rules

. NZPA Cairo Egypt, concerned for . the safety of Canal Zone residents, has set new rules for the transit of nuclear-powered ships . and those carrying nuclear material through . the international water- -- way.

The Canal Authority chairman, Mohammed Ezzat Adel, told the Middle c. East News Agency that - the conditions included a r .. SUSIO million insurance -- policy coupled with safety guarantees from nuclear <■. energy commissions which own shipments. - There would also have to be another insurance «* countersigned by the country of origin, for „ compensation in case of

nuclear accidents that might delay traffic in .the canal, he said. No specific sum was mentioned. Mr Adel said such ships would not be allowed to load or unload cargo in any of the canal’s harbours.

Egypt last July rejected a United States request that a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier should be permitted to sail through the canal, because new rules for passage had not then been fixed.

Egyptian concern over canal safety was intensified by the Soviet Union’s Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident last April. Before the accident, Egypt had allowed several nuclear-powered carriers

to transit the canal. Mr Adel said such ships in future would be checked on arrival at the canal by a representative of the Egyptian Nuclear Energy Commission, then would transit the canal immediately instead of waiting for a regular convoy. Mr Adel said medical and industrial equipment containing nuclear material was exempted from these regulations, but ships that had carried nuclear material in the past must obtain clearance certificates from the authority.

He said these carriers would hot require special insurance.