ACCIDENT IN SUEZ CANAL NEAR PORTSAID

ACCIDENT BETWEEN TWO VESSELS IN SUEZ CANAL IN PORTSAID

Two container ships collided on Monday morning in Egypt's Suez Canal, reported Al-Ahram's Arabic news website.The German Colombo Express was coming in from the Mediterranean Sea
when it hit the Singaporean ship Maersk Tanjong half a kilometre from the Port Said port, Al-Ahram said.
Both ships sustained minimal damage; four containers fell into the canal, which the Canal Authority retrieved. Navigation along the canal was temporarily interrupted for three hours.
The SCA sent vessels to lead both ships to the Al-Balah bypass so they could continue their journeys.

MAERSK TANJONG	COLOMBO EXPRESS
IMO: 9332511	IMO: 9295244
MMSI: 565510000	MMSI: 21143300
Call Sign: 9VDR9	Call Sign: DIHC
Flag: Singapore (SG)	Flag: Germany (DE)
AIS Type: Cargo	AIS Type: Cargo
Gross Tonnage: 94193	Gross Tonnage: 93750
Deadweight: 107269 t	Deadweight: 103800 t
Length × Breadth: 332m × 43.3m	Length × Breadth: 335.07m × 42.87m
Year Built: 2007	Year Built: 2005
Status: Active container vessel	Status: Active container vessel

The 324-metre container vessel Colombo Express has collided with the 332-metre container vessel Maersk Tanjong in the Suez Canaloff Port Said. The accident occurred today at 5:33 UTC.

The Maersk vessel was clearing the Suez Canal Container terminal to join the second convoy, whilst the Colombo Express was proceeding through the convoy. The collision resulted in a 20-metre dent to the left side of Colombo Express and three fallen containers.

The second southbound convoy has been interrupted. The container ships will be moored at the canal lakes until the investigation and the repairs are completed.
Colombo Express (IMO number 9295244 and MMSI 211433000) was built in 2005 and is registered in Germany. The container ship has a deadweight of 103,800 DWT.

Maersk Tanjong (IMO number 9332511 and MMSI 565510000) was built in 2007 and is registered in Singapore. The vessel has a deadweight of 107,266 DWT.