Egypt quickly refloats XIN TAIN YUAN Ship in Suez Canal

A cargo vessel that ran aground in the Suez Canal on Thursday was refloated within hours, Egyptian authorities said, preventing disruptions along one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.

The ship, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier identified as XIN TAIN YUAN, experienced a rudder malfunction while transiting north through the canal on a voyage from Denmark to Singapore, according to the Suez Canal Authority.

Tugboats were dispatched immediately after the vessel became stranded, and it was successfully refloated later the same day, said Osama Rabie, chairman of the canal authority. The ship resumed its journey under escort towards the Great Bitter Lakes after the crew carried out initial repairs.

The swift response helped avert a potential bottleneck in the canal, a critical artery for global trade that carries roughly 12 per cent of the world’s shipping traffic. The vessel is expected to undergo further inspection before completing its transit.

Rabie said the incident did not affect traffic from the southern end of the canal and that operations continued as normal. On Thursday, 50 ships passed through the waterway, carrying a combined cargo of roughly 2.2 million tons.

The episode highlighted the canal’s resilience, with authorities swiftly containing a minor technical issue and maintaining smooth traffic flow, reflecting improved response capabilities and expanded operational capacity in recent years.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English