Despite A 'Strike', Traffic On The Suez Canal Was Not Affected

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said traffic on the Suez Canal was not affected by the oil tanker's sudden engine failure on Tuesday, April 6. The authorities added that the ship had been repaired and restarted.

As reported by Reuters, the shipping websites MarineTraffic and TankerTrackers said earlier that sea traffic was slowing down the canal because the oil tanker M/T Rumford appeared to be facing difficulties in the south.

"The authorities immediately dealt with sudden damage to the engine of one of the vessels crossing the canal, the oil tanker Rumford, with a cargo of 62,000 tonnes, while crossing the canal between the southern convoys", the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said in a statement.

Shortly thereafter, the tugboats Team Hope and Mosaed 3 assisted the tugger and succeeded in continuing its movement down the canal.

"Ocean traffic is not affected", said SCA, adding that 84 ships passed through the canal from both sides on Tuesday.

Reports of delays on this line are particularly sensitive following the Ever Given, on March 23, hampering progress for nearly a week and tearing apart international supply chains.

TankersTracker said on Twitter that the ship was experiencing difficulties but was eventually heading north again.

Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chairman Osama Rabie told Reuters earlier on Tuesday that the problem had only lasted about 10 minutes and had been fixed.

"SCA is considering expanding the southern part of the waterway where the Ever Given container ship was stranded", said Rabie.