Suez Canal Temporarily Blocked

A statement by Admiral Mohab Mamish, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, explains reactions to the grounding of a Korean tankship.

Suez Canal Authority Chairman, Amiral Mohab Mamish, stated that Suez Canal pilots and salvage teams supported by tugboats succeeded in refloating the Korean tanker Volga, 82,000 tons that grounded in the main channel at Km. 42 and blocked the Canal at 05:15 pm on 14, February 2013.

Volga ran aground due to loss of power which led to engine and rudder failure. Orders were immediately given to salvage teams accompanied by tugboats to hurry for the accident location so as to refloat the vessel, clear the main channel and tow the tanker to the northern waiting area in Port Said.

The tanker was freed from grounding at 11:50 pm after extensive salvage operations under the directions of Admiral Mamish, who controlled the operation  from the Traffic Management Center in Ismailia until the ship cleared the main channel.

Traffic then came back to normal, and ships continued passing through the Suez Canal at 4:00 am the next day as the Canal witnessed the transit of 40 ships from both directions, carrying 2 million tons of cargo.