Efforts under way to refloat ship stuck in Suez Canal, authority says

The China-bound vessel, which originated in Ukraine, has been cleared for onward travel.

By REUTERS

JANUARY 9, 2023 09:28

Updated: JANUARY 9, 2023 10:04

A view shows the ship Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, after it was partially refloated, in Suez Canal, Egypt March 29, 2021 (photo credit: MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY/REUTERS) — A view shows the ship Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, after it was partially refloated, in Suez Canal, Egypt March 29, 2021

(photo credit: MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY/REUTERS)

Efforts are under way to refloat a cargo vessel carrying grain from Ukraine that has run aground in the Suez Canal, the chairman of the Suez Canal Authority told Al-Arabiya TV on Monday.

The M/V Glory ran aground while joining the southbound convoy transiting through the canal and tug boats are trying to refloat the vessel, Osama Rabie told Al-Arabiya.

The ship is a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, data from trackers VesselFinder and MarineTraffic showed.

It departed Ukraine's Chornomorsk port on Dec. 25 bound for China with 65,970 metric tonnes of corn, according to the Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) overseeing Ukraine grain exports.

Cleared for onward travel

A fisherman travels on a boat with his family in front of the Zim Europa container ship, in the Suez canal near Ismailia port city. (credit: REUTERS/AMR ABDALLAH DALSH)

The JCC, which includes representatives from the United Nations, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia, said the ship had been cleared to carry on its journey from Istanbul after an inspection on Jan. 3.

The Suez Canal is one of the world’s busiest waterways and the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.