SCF Tanker Grounded in Suez Canal due to Steering

he crude oil tanker Zaliv Amurskiy, owned by Russian shipping major Sovcomflot, grounded in the Suez Canal on February 13 due to a steering failure.

The vessel ran into trouble at 41 kilometer mark in the afternoon hours, while transiting the canal in northern direction.

GAC cited the Suez Canal Authority as saying that the incident affected vessel traffic in the area. The ship was number 19 in the Northbound convoy, made up of 25 vessels. All Southbound vessels cleared the canal, while 6 vessels were detained from the Northbound convoy.

Suez Canal tugs managed to refloat the 104,542 dwt tanker and the ship was to towed to Port Said, the canal exit from the eastern branch.

All vessels which were detained following the incident have subsequently cleared the canal, while both convoys were expected to return to normal operation on February 14 at around noon.