Suez Canal navigation unaffected by vessel grounding near Port Said: SCA

CAIRO – 14 January 2026: Maritime traffic through the Suez Canal is proceeding normally in both directions and has not been affected by the grounding of the general cargo vessel FENER, which occurred outside the canal’s navigational channel, authorities said.

Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie said on Tuesday that the incident took place in the western anchorage area north of Port Said, approximately five miles west of the canal’s northern entrance in the Mediterranean Sea.

The vessel, which is 122 meters long with a draft of 3.5 meters and a carrying capacity of 4,000 tons, grounded outside the canal’s waterway.

Water Ingress Report

According to the SCA chairman, the vessel had arrived from Turkey to load a shipment of salt at East Port Said.

After departing the port, deteriorating weather conditions prompted the ship’s master to request anchorage in the Port Said waiting area until conditions improved.

Rabie added that the SCA’s maritime rescue team received a report from the vessel indicating a breach in one of its holds, which led to water ingress into the hull.

As a precautionary measure, and prior to the arrival of the rescue team, the ship’s master maneuvered the vessel south of the anchorage area to aground it to prevent sinking.

Reassurance Message

Reassuring shipping operators, Rabie stressed that navigation through the Suez Canal continues at normal rates and remains entirely unaffected.

He noted that the SCA’s crisis and disaster management center is closely monitoring developments as part of its mandate to coordinate with other authorities in managing incidents occurring beyond the canal’s waterway.

Rabie highlighted the SCA’s integrated capabilities, which include highly skilled navigational personnel, extensive experience in maritime rescue operations and specialized maritime units tasked with rescue operations, navigational security, and pollution-control efforts.

On Tuesday, a total of 35 vessels transited the Suez Canal in both directions, with a combined net tonnage of approximately 1.6 million tons, the SCA noted.