Port Suakin - Clearance

See Sudan Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of the country.

Although Suakin is not an official port of entry, boats arriving here from the south have been allowed to clear into Sudan and formalities are reported to be simpler than at Port Sudan.

On approach, be sure to call Port Control on Channel 14.

Try to contact Ahmed Mohamed, reportedly the only local agent, via WhatsApp ( +249 91 214 2678)  a number of days before arriving, giving him as much detail as possible i.e. estimated arrival time, nationality, number of crew etc.

He will help with formalities and is good at resolving problems according to cruisers who visited and used his services in the spring of 2023.

You need to provide 5 copies of your crew list, 2 copies of your passport 1 passport size photo for each crew member plus your passports. Mohamed will do all the paperwork, pay the fees and bring back shore passes the same day or next morning, depending on the time you cleared in. Shore passes can be renewed at US$10 a week. Nothing extra for anchoring.

Mohamed can also help obtain fuel and good water (by jerry can), ice, laundry, gas refills, fresh produce, as well as trips to Port Sudan and will exchange USD to the local currency (Sudanese Pound). He can also assist with any repairs needed. Bear in mind however that he charges for these services and it is possible to do it yourself.

Formalities must be gone through again if continuing to Port Sudan. Formalities are simpler if one arrives with a Sudanese visa. Passports are retained until clearing out.

To check out, give Mohamed 24 hours’ notice. He will take your shore passes and return some 2 hours later with your passports and a sailing permit from Suakin to your next destination. He can obtain a sailing permit for cruising up the coast to Port Sudan through the Sudan reefs. This is recommended to avoid any problems.

Last updated: August 2023.