Cargo Vessel Rescued After Developing Dangerous List Near Suez Canal

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has rescued all crew members of the general cargo vessel FENER after the ship developed a heavy list and came close to sinking near the northern entrance of the Suez Canal.

The incident happened late on Tuesday night outside the canal’s navigational channel, in the western anchorage area north of Port Said, about five miles west of the canal’s Mediterranean entrance.

The vessel developed a list of around 10 degrees to starboard, which led the ship’s master to send a distress call.

The SCA said it received the call at around 11:30 pm and immediately launched an emergency response. Two tugboats were made ready, and three Bahar-class marine launches were sent to the site.

All 12 crew members were safely evacuated, and the vessel was secured during the rescue operation.

The authority confirmed that all crew members are in good health.

One crew member suffered a dislocated shoulder and was given medical treatment at the Canal Mooring and Lights Company hospital, which is affiliated with the SCA.

The FENER had arrived from Turkey to load cargo at East Port Said. After leaving the port, bad weather conditions forced the ship’s master to request anchorage in the Port Said waiting area until the weather improved.

During this time, a breach occurred in one of the vessel’s holds, allowing water to enter the ship.

Before rescue teams arrived, the ship’s master moved the vessel south of the anchorage area and deliberately grounded it to prevent it from sinking.

The SCA said several departments were involved in handling the incident. The Transit Department deployed the marine units needed for the rescue, while the Services Department provided fully equipped ambulances to transport the injured crew member.

The authority’s security and public relations teams coordinated with other authorities and arranged hotel accommodation for the crew members at their request.

The SCA added that its Crisis Management Committee is monitoring the situation continuously and remains ready to take further action if needed.

The authority added that it has recently introduced new navigational and logistical services to support vessels during normal operations and emergencies. These include water ambulance services and organised crew change support.

The SCA stated that shipping traffic through the Suez Canal has not been affected and continues at normal levels. On Tuesday, 35 vessels transited the canal in both directions, with a total net tonnage of about 1.6 million tonnes.

The FENER is 122 metres long, has a draught of 3.5 metres, and a gross tonnage of around 4,000 tonnes.

The SCA said it remains prepared to handle maritime emergencies through experienced personnel, specialised salvage units, and established response systems.

Reference: Suez Canal

Source: Maritime Shipping News