The 292 meter long, 175,620 dwt bulk carrier Minerva Faith ran aground in the Suez Canal near the 101 kilometer mark. The Minerva Faith was en route to Suez from Narvik when it veered from the channel and ran aground on a sandbank. The bulker was unable to refloat itself and requested assistance. Two tugs were dispatched to the scene and refloated the vessel. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
The 117 meter long, 3133 dwt ro-ro cargo vessel Taba capsized and sank in the Red Sea just outside the port of Safaga, Egypt. The Taba had just departed from Safaga bound for Dhiba with cargo of trucks when it suffered a cargo shift. The 37 persons on board were able to safely abandon ship and were later rescued by Egyptian rescue boats. The Taba capsized and sank. No reports of injuries. Reports state the trucks on deck had not be properly secured which lead to the incident.
The 347 meter long, 110387 dwt container ship Susan Maersk and the 300 meter long, 208086 dwt bulk carrier Margret Oldendorff ran aground on the Suez Canal near the 94 kilometer mark. Both vessels were proceeding northbound in dense fog when both vessels grounded onto a sandbank. The Susan Maersk was undamaged, but the Margret Oldendorff was holed above the waterline. No reports of injuries or pollution on either vessel. Both vessels were able to be refloated a short time later and continue on their voyage. Traffic on the canal was halted for several hours. The Susan Maersk was en route to Barcelona from Tanjung Pelepas. The Margret Oldendorff was travelling from Richards Bay, South Africa.
