Oil Drilling Vessel Accident in Gulf of Suez Leaves Four Dead, Search Ongoing for Missing Crew

A maritime incident occurred late Tuesday in Egypt’s Gulf of Suez, where an oil drilling barge vessel capsized off the coast of Ras Ghareb, resulting in four confirmed fatalities and leaving four crew members missing. The vessel, identified as Adam Marine 12, was in transit when it overturned in the Gebel El-Zeit area—an important oil-producing zone located approximately 300 kilometers south of the Suez Canal.

According to Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry, the vessel was carrying 30 personnel at the time of the incident. Twenty-two individuals were rescued and received immediate medical attention, with four transported by air and the remainder by ambulance to nearby hospitals.

Governor Hanafi confirmed the involvement of the Egyptian Navy in the search and rescue operations, which continued through the night in efforts to locate the missing crew members. The cause of the barge’s capsize has not been officially determined, though local reports suggest it may have occurred while the vessel was being repositioned for drilling activities in a different location.

The incident, while severe, has not impacted operations in the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors. Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, stated that transits remained unaffected, with 33 vessels scheduled to pass through the waterway on Wednesday as planned.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the capsizing of the vessel. Meanwhile, maritime and energy officials are working to assess safety protocols across offshore operations in the region, amid growing concerns over the risks associated with vessel transfers during oil exploration missions.

Source: Maritime Shipping News