Suez Canal

Suez Canal reopens

THE grounded 154,972dwt tanker Tropic Brilliance was successfully refloated in the Suez Canal this morning and towed to an anchorage about 7 n-miles away within the canal for a complete underwater inspection. No pollution has occurred and all cargo tanks have been reported to be undamaged.

The Tropic Brilliance was lightened by 22,000 tonnes of its crude cargo by the A1 Nabila 4, a 27,841dwt, Egyptian-flagged tanker owned and operated by the Chandris Group. The transfer began last night and was completed at 0700 local time today. The canal is now clear and the Suez Canal Authority officially declared the canal open at 0920.

According to GAC's Suez Canal Service, 52 vessels are currently held inside the canal with an unspecified number waiting at Port Said and Suez. The Canal Authority has said that it will arrange special convoys and expects to clear the backlog of vessels today.