- Engine Failure Causes Temporary Suez Canal Disruption.
- Rescue Teams Refloated Vessel Within 30 Minutes.
- SCA Praises Swift Emergency Response and Skilled Crew.
On October 28, a sanctioned crude oil tanker caused a brief disruption in navigation through the Suez Canal after it experienced an engine failure and ran aground. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) confirmed that rescue teams managed to refloat the vessel in just 30 minutes, allowing normal traffic to resume in both directions. The incident took place around 12:30 p.m. near kilometre 47 of the canal when the tanker, heading south, lost engine power and drifted out of the designated channel, reports Marine Insight.
Quick Action Restores Normal Operations
The SCA quickly dispatched five tugboats to help with the refloating, along with an additional high-capacity tugboat for support. Within half an hour, the vessel was successfully freed and towed to the Bitter Lakes area for inspection. By 1:00 p.m., navigation had returned to normal.
Admiral Osama Rabie commended the authority’s swift response, emphasising the skill of its personnel and the canal’s advanced tug fleet in effectively handling emergencies.
Details About the Vessel
The tanker, which was built in 2004, was carrying approximately 80,000 tons of crude oil, having loaded its cargo in northern Russia and was reportedly headed for Asia. Over the years, it has changed names and flags multiple times and is currently under sanctions from several countries for transporting crude oil above the G7 price cap.
Minimal Impact on Canal Traffic
The grounded vessel was the last in a convoy of 19 ships heading south, and no other southbound traffic faced delays. However, northbound vessels were temporarily stopped until the obstruction was cleared. Fortunately, there were no reports of pollution or damage, and later that day, 34 ships carrying 1.4 million tonnes of cargo completed their transits.
Wider Risks from the ‘Dark Fleet’
This incident highlights the safety and environmental concerns associated with the increasing number of older, uninsured tankers operating outside of standard classification and inspection systems. Maritime experts have raised alarms that these vessels, often involved in sanctioned oil trades, present greater risks in critical chokepoints like the Suez Canal.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Marine Insight
