Suez Canal rescue units save Tanzanian-flagged ship from sinking in Port Said

Ahram Online , Tuesday 23 Apr 2024

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced Tuesday that its maritime rescue units saved the Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship LABATROS from sinking in Port Said City.

Suez Canal ship
Suez Canal s maritime rescue units save Tanzania-flagged ship LABATROS from sinking. SCA

 

The ship, measuring 94 metres in length and 15 metres in width, was carrying a crew of 12 members, the SCA said in a statement.

The ship was rescued from the northern waiting area for vessels before joining the southbound convoy to cross the canal from Port Said.

The SCA dispatched the rescue teams upon receiving a distress call from the captain about the ship tilting to the right and being in a state of sinking.

The tugboats PORT SAID, MOSAHEB, and Al-BAHAR rushed to evacuate the crew and assist the captain in preventing the ship from sinking.

The exact reasons for the incident have not yet been revealed.

Currently, teams specializing in sea rescue and pollution control are conducting a technical examination of the ship to assess any potential impact during the rescue operation and determine the cause of the sinking.

The ship was en route to Egypt's Adabiya Port, located in the upper part of the Gulf of Suez on the Red Sea, from Lebanon.

According to the SCA, the ship has a draft of six metres and a tonnage of 3,000 tons.

Over the past months, the SCA's technical teams have been on high alert because of the recent tensions in the Red Sea and the damages caused to some ships due to attacks by the Houthis of Yemen.

The tensions in the Red Sea have slashed the revenues of the Suez Canal by half in 2024, affecting a crucial source of critical foreign currency for the country.

In January, the SCA provided maintenance and repair services for the Malta-flagged, Greek-owned dry bulk vessel ZOGRAFIA, which a Houthi attack has targeted in the Red Sea.

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