Tanker Collision Disrupts Traffic in Suez Canal

One consequence of the incident is the delay in transit for 21 southbound vessels, as reported by Leth Agencies, a canal services firm. Considering that approximately 10% of global trade passes through the Suez Canal, the disruption has significant implications for international commerce and acts as a main source of foreign currency for the Egyptian government.

This collision incident brings to mind the Panama-flagged Ever Given mishap in March 2021 when a massive container ship crashed into a bank, blocking the canal for six days and causing significant disruptions to global trade.

A time-lapse video released by MarineTraffic, a vessel tracking service provider, revealed the sequence of events leading up to the collision. The video captures the Burri veering towards the port side and colliding with the grounded BW Lesmes.

The Burri, constructed in 2018, measures 250 meters (820 feet) in length and 44 meters (144 feet) in width. On the other hand, the BW Lesmes, built three years later, stretches 295 meters (968 feet) in length and has a width of 46.43 meters (152 feet) according to MarineTraffic data.

According to a statement by BW LNG AS, the operators of the BW Lesmes, all crew members are safe and accounted for, and no injuries or reports of pollution have been recorded.

Upon initial inspections, it was determined that there was no significant damage to the tankers, and no pollution was found at the site. A technical team from Oslo, Norway is expected to arrive at the vessel later today to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, as stated by BW LNG AS.

This incident serves as yet another example of vessels encountering difficulties in the vital waterway.

Over the past few years, there has been a notable increase in ships running aground or experiencing breakdowns in the Suez Canal. Earlier this month, a tugboat sank in the canal after colliding with a Hong Kong-flagged tanker.