Navigation through the Suez Canal is proceeding normally in both directions and has not been affected by the grounding of the general cargo vessel FENER, according to the Suez Canal Authority.
Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, said the incident occurred outside the Canal’s navigational channel, in the western anchorage area north of Port Said, approximately five miles west of the Canal’s northern entrance in the Mediterranean Sea.
The vessel, measuring 122 metres in length with a draft of 3.5 metres and a tonnage of 4,000 tons, was en route from Turkey to load a salt cargo at East Port Said Port. After departing the port, the vessel’s master requested permission to anchor in the Port Said anchorage area due to poor weather conditions.
Admiral Rabiee explained that the Authority’s maritime salvage team later received a notification from the vessel reporting a breach in one of its holds, which resulted in water ingress. As a precautionary measure, and prior to the arrival of salvage units, the vessel’s master moved south of the anchorage area and deliberately grounded the vessel to prevent it from sinking.
He reassured that Canal navigation was not impacted by the incident, stressing that it took place entirely outside the Suez Canal’s navigational channel. Canal traffic continued at normal rates, with 35 vessels transiting the waterway in both directions during the day, accounting for a total net tonnage of 1.6 million tons.
The Suez Canal Authority’s Crisis Management Center is closely monitoring developments as part of its coordination responsibilities for incidents occurring outside the Canal’s navigational channel.
Admiral Rabiee also confirmed the Authority’s readiness to provide assistance if required, highlighting its skilled navigational personnel, extensive maritime salvage expertise, and specialised marine units dedicated to salvage operations, navigational safety and pollution control.
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