- Mechanical Malfunction Causes Vessel Deviation Near El-Qantara.
- Suez Canal Incident Resolved Within One Hour After Steering Fault.
- Controlled Dock Contact Prevents Damage During Suez Emergency.
On Friday, June 20, a heavy lift vessel faced an unexpected steering failure while navigating the Suez Canal as part of a northbound convoy. This incident took place at kilometre 45, close to the El-Qantara West passenger ferry crossing, reports Safety4Sea.
Vessel Goes Off Course
The 217-meter-long, 41,000-ton ship strayed from its intended route due to a mechanical issue. Navigation control staff at El-Qantara quickly noticed the deviation and alerted the ferry personnel nearby.
Quick Evacuation and Controlled Contact
Ferry operators wasted no time in evacuating passengers and clearing the area of nearby vessels. The pilots on the affected ship skillfully managed to guide it into a controlled, parallel contact with the ferry dock, which helped minimise potential damage.
Tugboat Support and On-Site Repairs
Three tugboats were dispatched right away to stabilise and secure the vessel. Crew members conducted temporary repairs on-site before the ship was escorted to the El-Balah area and then to the Great Bitter Lakes for a thorough inspection.
Damage Assessment and Safety Outcome
Initial inspections revealed a small hole above the waterline at the bow, but thankfully, no significant structural damage was found. Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities reported.
Situation Under Control Within an Hour
The emergency response was wrapped up in just 60 minutes. The vessel is anticipated to resume its transit once the technical inspections and administrative formalities are completed.
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Source: Safety4Sea
