Traffic slows in Suez Canal as tanker faces difficulties

[April 06, 2021]  ISMAILIA (Egypt) (Reuters) - Marine traffic slowed in the Suez Canal on Tuesday as oil tanker M/T Rumford appeared to face difficulties in the south of the canal, shipping websites MarineTraffic and TankerTrackers said.

A ship is seen after sailing through Suez Canal, in Ismailia, Egypt April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

A trade source said that the canal notified companies that the M/T Rumford faced engine trouble in the canal and that it had sent tug boats Tim Hope and Mosaed 3 to its aid.

TankersTracker said on twitter that the vessel had run into difficulty but is finally heading north again.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) told Reuters the issue had only lasted about 10 minutes and "was fixed".

(Reporting by Yousry Mohamed in Ismailia and Nadine Awadalla in Cairo; Writing by Mahmoud Mourad; Editing by David Goodman)

[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.