The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said navigation through the canal was normal in both directions on Tuesday after the crude tanker Komander briefly ran aground and was quickly refloated.
SCA Chairman Admiral Osama Rabie stated that the incident occurred at kilometer 47 during the northern convoy at around 12:30 local time due to a machinery failure. “Maritime rescue forces dealt with the grounding immediately,” he said.
Five SCA tugs were deployed, and the initial refloat took only 30 minutes. A 160-ton bollard-pull salvage tug later towed the vessel to the Bitter Lakes area for inspection. The authority said that traffic was not disrupted in either direction.
According to SCA data cited by local media, the Komander is 274 meters long and 48 meters wide, with a capacity of about 80,000 tons. Industry sources identify the Komander as a 150,600-deadweight-ton crude tanker built in 2004.
SCA also reported that 34 ships, totaling 1.4 million net tons, transited the canal on Tuesday.
Admiral Rabie said, “The Suez Canal is able to swiftly handle difficult situations and manage navigational emergencies with high efficiency,” adding that the authority has expanded its tug fleet and salvage capabilities to avoid prolonged disruptions.
The Suez Canal Authority is a state-owned Egyptian entity established under Law No. 30 of 1956. It operates, maintains, and develops the Suez Canal, one of the world’s key maritime trade routes connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. The authority manages navigation services, toll collection, and canal expansion projects.
