Collision between two tankers disrupting traffic at Egypt's Suez Canal

CAIRO, Egypt (AP): Two tankers carrying oil products and liquefied natural gas collided in the Suez Canal, causing a disruption in traffic through the global waterway, as announced by Egyptian authorities on Wednesday (Aug 23).

The Suez Canal authority reported in a statement that on Tuesday night, the BW Lesmes, a Singapore-flagged tanker transporting liquefied natural gas, encountered a mechanical malfunction and ran aground while transiting through the canal. Subsequently, the Burri, a Cayman Island-flagged oil products tanker, collided with the incapacitated vessel.

The collision resulted in a disruption of traffic, stated the report. Both tankers were part of a convoy traversing from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

“We have promptly addressed the breakdowns… and traffic will be restored to normal in both directions within the next few hours,” stated Adm. Ossama Rabei, the head of the canal authority, in the press release.

The Suez Canal serves as a major source of foreign currency for the Egyptian government, facilitating approximately 10% of global trade.

In March 2021, the Panama-flagged Ever Given, an immense container ship, collided with a bank on a narrow section of the canal, blocking the waterway for six days and causing disruptions in worldwide trade.

MarineTraffic, a provider of vessel tracking services, released a time-lapse video illustrating the incident, showing the Burri turning towards port and colliding with the already grounded BW Lesmes.

The canal authorities successfully managed to refloat and tow away the BW Lesmes, with ongoing efforts to remove the Burri from the waterway.

“All crew members are safe and accounted for, and there were no injuries or reports of pollution,” stated BW LNG AS, the operators of the BW Lesmes, in their announcement.

Rabei indicated that initial inspections showed minimal damage to the tankers, as well as no pollution at the site. BW LNG AS mentioned that a technical team from Oslo, Norway would arrive at the vessel later on Wednesday to investigate the incident.

Wednesday’s occurrence marks another instance of a vessel reported to be stuck in the vital waterway. The Suez Canal has experienced a series of ships running aground or experiencing breakdowns in recent years.

The canal, established in 1869, serves as a crucial connection for oil, natural gas, and cargo transportation.

According to the Suez Canal Authority, last year witnessed 23,851 vessels passing through the waterway, in comparison to 20,649 vessels in 2021. The revenue generated from the canal in 2022 reached a historic high of US$8 billion (RM37.23). – AP