Susan Maersk Runs Aground in Suez Canal

Danish-flagged containership Susan Maersk ran aground on a sand bank on Sunday morning in the Suez Canal while en route to the Mediterranean Sea.

“Susan Maersk did run aground, but was not involved in any collision,” Maersk Line Spokesperson Michael Christian Storgaard told World Maritime News.

Namely, the containership was reported to have collided with the bulk carrier Margaret Oldendorff.

Susan Maersk was pulled free from the sand bank at 14hrs CET yesterday and has resumed her voyage.

“There are no damages in any way to ship, crew or cargo,” Maersk Line Spokesperson said.

The Suez Canal Authority informed that the traffic was delayed for several hours yesterday due to the grounding of two cargo ships in the same convoy.

Namely, the Liberian-flagged Margaret Oldendorff, had also ran aground, but managed to free itself that same afternoon and continue her  voyage as well.

The cause of the grounding has not been disclosed, even through there were reports of dense fog limiting visibility.

According to live shipping data by Marine Traffic, the 1997-built containership is underway toward Barcelona, whereas the 2014-built bulk carrier is bound for Iskenderun, Turkey.

World Maritime News Staff