Hong Kong cargo ship that was stranded for nearly 4 hours within the Suez Canal has been refloated with the assistance of tugboats.

The vessel, named Xin Hai Tong 23, turned grounded in one of many world’s busiest waterways at 4am on Thursday after arriving from Saudi Arabia, in keeping with Leth Agencies.

It disrupted 4 different vessels from a convoy which deliberate to enter the canal round 6am.

Suez Canal tug boats labored for hours to re-float the cargo ship and the ship was towed by three rescue boats, the Suez Canal Authority mentioned.

Refinitiv Eikon delivery information had confirmed the ship as “not under command” close to the southern finish of the canal. It was initially positioned at an angle with its stern abutting the canal’s japanese aspect however the ship appeared to have been moved in the direction of the middle and pointed south.

Read More

The ship was efficiently refloated at 7.40am. Xin Hai Tong 23 is heading for Egypt, the Suez Canal Authority mentioned.

The vessel, which flies the Hong Kong flag, is 190 metres lengthy, 32 metres extensive.

It is owned by Xiang B12 HK International Ship Lease and managed by Tosco Keymax International Ship Management.

The Suez Canal Authority mentioned that marine rescue groups and three tug boats have been instantly despatched to tow the ship after the authority’s most important navigation management centre obtained a notification of the ship’s failure.

“The failure of the ship’s winch and the inability to raise the hook hindered the completion of the connection procedures with the tugboats,” the authority mentioned.

‏Lieutenant General Osama Rabie mentioned that common navigation within the canal from each instructions may return as quickly because the ship’s tow is accomplished, as a “precautionary measure”.

Around 12 per cent of the world’s commerce strikes by way of the Suez Canal, the shortest delivery route between Europe and Asia.

During sturdy winds in 2021, an enormous container ship, the Ever Given, became jammed across Suez Canal, halting visitors in each instructions for six days and disrupting world commerce.

Last yr, tug boats refloated an oil tanker that was briefly stranded within the canal after to a technical fault with its rudder, whereas the breakdown of a container ship within the canal brought on minor delays in March.