Singapore-Flagged Tanker Collides with Oil Tanker in Suez Canal

A Singapore-flagged tanker ran aground in Egypt’s Suez Canal on Tuesday night before it was hit by another vessel. BW LNG AS that operate the BW Lesmes reported that all crew members onboard the vessel were safe, and there were no reports of injuries or pollution, said the BW Group. No Singaporeans were onboard, a spokesman added.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) told The Straits Times that it was informed at about 5.30am Singapore time on Wednesday that the liquefied natural gas carrier, operated by the BW Fleet Management AS, had grounded in the southbound approach in the Suez Canal.

Following the grounding at 9.35pm local time on Tuesday, another vessel subsequently “allided” with BW Lesmes, according to the BW Group. “Allide” is a nautical term used to describe a vessel hitting an object that is fixed or stationary. The vessel has since been refloated with assistance from the local authorities at 3.30am on Wednesday.

“The allision occurred at a low speed and the vessel’s operational capabilities have not been affected. Initial observations from the crew onboard have reported the vessel remains structurally sound,” said BW Group. Citing eyewitnesses, ship tracking company Marine Traffic said the vessel that allided with BW Lesmes was Cayman Islands-flagged oil products tanker Burri. BW Lesmes is now being navigated to Suez anchorage for further inspections, said BW Group.

Suez Canal Authority chairman Osama Rabie said later that the vessel has been towed away from the waterway. The BW Group said its technical team from Oslo will arrive on Wednesday afternoon to commence investigations, adding that the safety of the vessel and the crew remain its highest priority. “We would like to thank the local authorities for their swift and efficient assistance,” he added.

The Suez Canal, which measures 193.30km long, 24m deep and 205m wide, has the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. In March 2021, a 400m-long container ship called Ever Given travelling from Malaysia to the Netherlands was wedged across the canal after its was hit by strong winds. The incident cut off the traffic in the busy waterway for six days.