The damaged tanker Sounion, attacked by the Houthis off Yemen, successfully transited the Suez Canal. The operation, managed by Ambrey and Mega Tugs, offloaded 150,000 tons of crude oil in Greece. The Canal Authority oversaw the complex operation, highlighting the challenges of towing the heavily damaged vessel without steering control.
A massive fire broke out in an Egyptian shipyard near the Suez Canal, destroying fishing boats and pleasure craft. Despite six hours of firefighting efforts, the blaze was challenging to contain due to flammable materials. No fatalities were reported, but three individuals were hospitalized. Authorities are investigating the cause and assessing the damage.
The Suez Canal Authority responded to a distress call from the cargo ship Labatros, which was listing near the northern terminus. The vessel, owned by a Lebanese company, was due to transit to Adabiya. Two tugs were sent to aid the 12 crewmembers. A technical assessment is underway to determine the cause of the list.
AIDA Cruises cancels repositioning voyages for three cruise ships transiting the Red Sea. The German brand is the first major cruise line to address the issues of moving ships from the Middle East, South Africa, the Indian Ocean, or Asia back to Europe. Safety concerns prompt the cancellations, causing disruptions for several months.
