Tugboat sinks in Egypt’s Suez Canal after colliding with tanker

A tugboat collided with a Hong Kong-flagged tanker and sank in the Suez Canal in Egypt on Saturday, according to a statement from the canal’s governing body.

The Suez Canal Authority, responsible for managing this crucial maritime route, said that after the accident, a rescue operation was initiated to save the seven-member crew of the tugboat. They are currently working on recovering the sunken vessel, but there has been no information provided regarding any disruptions to the passage of other ships in the canal.

The Suez Canal, acting as a connector between the Mediterranean and Red Seas, periodically witnesses incidents involving massive transport ships, many of which navigate between China, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere. Tugboats typically assist these ships in their journey through the canal.

As for the tanker involved in the recent collision, it has been identified as the Hong Kong-flagged Chinagas Legend, now docked at Port Said, waiting further instruction.

This incident recalls the March 2021 crisis when a gigantic container ship, the Panama-flagged Ever Given, became lodged in a narrow part of the canal, halting all passage. It took six days, a flotilla of tugboats, and the aid of tidal forces to free the ship, allowing the blocked vessels to continue through.

Since its inauguration in 1869, the Suez Canal has been a critical artery for the transportation of oil, natural gas, and various cargoes, and is one of Egypt’s chief sources of foreign revenue. In 2015, the government under President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi completed a significant expansion of the canal, enhancing its capacity to accommodate the world’s largest shipping vessels.

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More about fokus keyword: tugboat collision

• Suez Canal Authority Official Website
• News Report on the Collision
• Information on the Suez Canal Expansion Project
• Historical Background on the Suez Canal