A Norwegian-owned cargo ship ran aground briefly in the Suez Canal before being refloated and towed, according to the Egyptian authority that manages the vital waterway.
The ship, which had experienced a sudden technical failure, was being removed by tugboats for repairs, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chief Osama Rabie said on Monday. Maritime traffic was normal, he added.
About 10% of the world’s maritime trade is transported through the Suez Canal.
In 2021, the supertanker Ever Given wedged diagonally across the channel during a sandstorm, disrupting trade flows for nearly a week.
According to the SCA, Egypt lost between $12 million and $15 million each day of the closure, while insurers estimated that global maritime trade lost billions in lost revenue daily.
Fears of an equally costly blockade were sparked by the latest incident, first reported on Twitter by the Norwegian company Leth, a shipping agency for many ships in the Suez Canal.
“M/V Glory ran aground while joining a southbound convoy,” he tweeted. “Suez Canal Authority tugs are currently attempting to refloat the vessel.”
Leth later reported that the ship had been refloated and that 21 ships traveling south would begin or resume their transits with only minor delays expected.