SIMIC

The incident began when the 199,700-dwt Al Muraykh reportedly lost power and grounded in the southbound traffic lanes. Two dozen vessels that were ahead of the containership in the southbound convoy were not affected and continued their transit while nine other southbound vessels were caught behind the ship. The northbound convoy was also reportedly suspended, said the report.

The Suez Canal Authority dispatched assistance to the stranded vessel and after five hours the containership was refloated and moved to an anchorage for inspection, permitting traffic to resume in the Suez. Hapag Lloyd, operator of the 18,800-TEU vessel, reported that it expected the ship to proceed on its voyage uninterrupted.

In October, the 9,448-TEU CMA CGM Missouri also ran aground in a southbound convoy, reportedly blacking out losing its steering capacity as the canal bank damaged its rudder. Suez Canal tugboats were able to free the vessel and also move it out of the traffic lane.