In a statement on Tuesday, the SCA said it “has no connection” to the legal dispute between the Sphinx shipping agency and the tanker’s owning company, which it said had failed to pay outstanding dues owed to the agency.
The Authority explained that the case led the Ismailia Economic Court to issue a judicial order for the vessel’s seizure and detention at the Suez anchorage until the debts are settled.
Several media outlets earlier reported that the SCA had impounded the tanker over unpaid transit fees, drawing political and media attention after the ship’s owners reportedly informed Russian authorities.
The SCA reaffirmed that navigation through the canal is proceeding normally and that it plays no role in disputes between private companies and their clients.
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