File photo: Egypt s Suez Canal
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Rabie said the incident occurred outside the canal’s navigational channel, in the western anchorage area north of Port Said, about five nautical miles west of the canal’s northern entrance in the Mediterranean.
The vessel, measuring 122 metres in length with a draught of 3.5 metres and a total cargo capacity of 4,000 tons, was sailing from Turkey to load a shipment of salt at East Port Said Port.
Rabie explained that after leaving the port, the ship’s captain requested to anchor in the Port Said waiting area due to poor weather conditions.
The SCA later received a report indicating a breach in one of the ship’s holds, which allowed water to enter the hull.
As a precautionary measure, the captain deliberately grounded the vessel south of the anchorage area to prevent it from sinking, prior to the arrival of the SCA’s maritime salvage team.
The SCA chairman reiterated that canal traffic continues at normal rates, stressing that the incident occurred outside the canal’s waterway and posed no impact on navigation.
He added that the authority’s Crisis and Disaster Management Centre is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with relevant external bodies, affirming the SCA’s readiness to assist if required through its specialized maritime rescue, navigation safety, and pollution-control units.
According to the SCA, 35 vessels transited the canal on Tuesday in both directions, with a total net tonnage of approximately 1.6 million tons.
Weather in Egypt has been unsettled in recent days, with the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) reporting dusty conditions and reduced visibility across several regions, including Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt, the North Coast, and the Suez Canal cities.
Strong winds of 40–60 km/h have also stirred up sand and dust from the Western Desert, causing horizontal visibility to fall sharply in many areas and prompting warnings for drivers and residents to take precautions.
The EMA says these unstable conditions—with more wind-driven dust and possible rainfall—are likely to continue in the coming hours.
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