Grounded Boxship Suspends Northbound Convoys in Suez Canal

Northbound convoys in the Suez Canal have been suspended following grounding of a 153,514 DWT containership on April 28, according to GAC Egypt.

The vessel ran into trouble due to engine problems and is still grounded at the same position.

According to GAC, the ship was the tenth vessel in the Southbound convoy of 20 vessels, while the rest of Southbound convoy of 8 vessels have been detained.

“Today’s Southbound convoy started at 0800 hours local time and will stop and wait at Great Bitter Lakes,” the agency said.

GAC did not disclose the name of the ship to World Maritime News.

Nevertheless, based on the data from Marine Traffic, Portugal-flagged 153,514 DWT containership MSC Fabiola is aground in the Suez. The 2010-built ship was headed for Salalah, Oman based on its AIS data, which shows the vessel currently being maneuvered by two tugs Mosaheb 4 and Mosaed 4.

The boxship is chartered by the Mediterranean Shipping Company and operated by the Peter Döhle Schiffahrtsgesellschaft Gmbh und co.KG from Hamburg, Germany.

As informed, Suez Canal tugs are trying to assist the ship, but more traffic delays are expected until the grounded vessel is floated.

World Maritime News Staff