Suez Canal

Grounding closes Suez Canal

THE Suez Canal has closed for the first time since 1975 following the grounding of a Liberian-flagged, double-hulled tanker. The Sovcomflot-owned and operated Tropic Brilliance grounded at 19:25 local time on Saturday 6 November close to the 73km marker. The 1992-built, 154,972dwt tanker is carrying a full load of crude oil but no pollution has occurred.

The Suez Canal Authority is co-coordinating the re-floating operation and a salvage master from Smit is en-route to assist. A smaller tanker will arrive at the scene this afternoon, and the current plan is for this tanker to remove 25,000 tonnes of crude oil from the Tropic Brilliance.

Egyptian newspaper Alakhaber has been reported as saying that the re-floating operation could take seven days. Unicom, the vessel's manager, told Fairplay there is currently no timeframe for re-opening of the Canal, but this will become clearer when the salvage master and the offloading tanker are in position.

GAC's Suez Canal Service told Fairplay that there is a North-bound convoy halted mid-Canal. The Canal has a daily average of 47 vessel transits.