Egypt’s Suez Canal vessel collision: Ship veers off course, hits dock

The RED ZED 1 vessel is mostly intact, with damage still being assessed on site.

Last updated: June 21, 2025 | 21:51

Lekshmy Pavithran, Assistant Online Editor

2 MIN READ

RED ZED 1 diving vessel suffered steering failure near km 45 of Suez Canal, El-Qantara West.

Suez Canal Authority/X

Dubai: A diving vessel briefly ran aground while travelling north through Egypt's Suez Canal but was safely refloated within 60 minutes, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said Saturday. No injuries were reported from the incident on Friday.

Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), posted on X that a thorough investigation found no casualties or injuries. The vessel RED ZED 1 remains largely intact, with damage currently under assessment at the site, the SCA confirmed.

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The SCA said the grounding occurred near kilometer 45 of the canal, close to the Qantara West ferry terminal, after the RED ZED 1 experienced a sudden steering failure. The vessel veered off course and collided parallel to the ferry dock, avoiding a more serious head-on impact.

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Swift response by SCA

Admiral Rabie praised the swift, professional response by the SCA. Canal pilots onboard the vessel prevented a direct collision, while supervisors at Qantara Pilot Station quickly detected the deviation and coordinated the safe evacuation of ferry passengers and marine personnel.

Navigation remained uninterrupted

Navigation through the Suez Canal continued without disruption. The affected ferry was promptly replaced by a standby vessel, ensuring passenger movement remained steady. The emergency was contained within 60 minutes.

Three tugboats—MISR AL GADEEDA, MOSAED 4, and Suez 1—were dispatched immediately to stabilize the vessel. After temporary repairs, RED ZED 1 was escorted safely to the Great Bitter Lakes. The SCA’s integrated crisis management system enabled a rapid, coordinated response.

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Vessel’s condition and next steps

Initial inspections by the maritime salvage team confirmed the hull’s integrity. The vessel is cleared to resume transit following temporary repairs to a minor hole above the waterline. Further damage assessments and repairs are ongoing.

Admiral Rabie highlighted the professionalism and teamwork demonstrated, underscoring the Suez Canal’s readiness to manage emergencies without affecting vital navigation and transport services.