Egyptian authorities successfully rescued twelve crew members from the Turkish-owned cargo ship Fener, which was in danger of sinking near Port Said. The vessel, built in 1982 and measuring 138 meters (453 feet), had arrived from Turkey to load salt when it encountered severe weather shortly after departing on January 13. The captain requested to anchor to wait out the storm but soon reported a breach in one of the ship’s holds, leading to water intake.
As conditions worsened, the captain decided to ground the ship south of the anchorage to prevent it from sinking. Later that night, the Fener issued a distress call, indicating a 10-degree list to starboard and fears of imminent sinking. In response, the Suez Canal Authority deployed two tugboats and three speedboats for the rescue operation.
All twelve crew members were safely evacuated and taken to the port for medical attention, with one individual reported to have a dislocated shoulder. The Suez Canal Authority confirmed that the incident did not disrupt canal operations, as 35 vessels successfully transited without incident that day. They also noted ongoing improvements in maritime safety and salvage operations during a recent lull in traffic.
