Suez Canal Authority: ‘FENER’ located outside canal jurisdiction, no action without formal request

CAIRO - 29 January 2026: In response to inquiries regarding the cargo vessel FENER, which ran aground earlier this month outside the Suez Canal’s navigation channel along the coast of Port Said, the Suez Canal Authority confirms that it has not received any official requests - either from the vessel’s owner or from the competent authorities - to provide technical support or salvage services. The vessel remains located outside the Canal’s navigation channel, north of Port Said, approximately five miles west of the northern entrance to the Suez Canal in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Authority further clarifies that, although the vessel lies outside the Canal’s legal jurisdiction and poses no impact on the regularity of navigation, it promptly fulfilled its humanitarian responsibilities. These measures included an immediate response to the distress call from the captain of the vessel FENER and the successful rescue of all crew members in the early hours of Wednesday, January 14, despite unstable weather conditions, in line with the Authority’s commitment to safeguarding lives.

Beyond the rescue operation, the Suez Canal Authority continued to closely monitor the vessel’s technical condition through its marine salvage team to ensure the absence of any environmental risks, particularly potential fuel leaks. In addition, the Authority contacted the ship’s owner via its authorized shipping agent, urging them to initiate salvage operations and informing them of their responsibility for any economic or environmental consequences resulting from the situation. A detailed technical report on the vessel’s condition was also submitted by the Authority on Wednesday.

The Suez Canal Authority is closely monitoring the environmental conditions in the area where the vessel is located and confirms that there are currently no environmental risks or fuel leaks. This is particularly significant given that the cargo vessel FENER is carrying a shipment of salt and operates on light diesel fuel rather than heavy fuel oil, which considerably reduces potential environmental impact. Additionally, the vessel’s relatively small fuel tank capacity further limits environmental risk.

In line with its commitment to social and environmental responsibility, the Suez Canal Authority continues to coordinate with all relevant entities - including the Port Said Governorate, the Maritime Safety Authority, the Ministry of Environment, and the Egyptian Navy—to ensure that all necessary precautionary measures and procedures are in place to protect the marine environment along the coast of Port Said Governorate in the event of any potential fuel leakage.

The Authority also emphasizes its full readiness to provide technical consultations, technical support, and logistical assistance for handling the vessel, should a formal request be submitted by the ship’s owner. Alternatively, and following the completion of all required legal procedures, the Authority will coordinate with the competent authorities to take appropriate action, including, in exceptional circumstances, the precautionary seizure of the vessel as a legal measure.

It is noteworthy that the vessel has an overall length of 132.3 meters, a beam of 16.5 meters, a draft of 3.5 meters, and a cargo capacity of 4,700 tons.