The crude oil tanker “Affinity V” ran aground in the Suez Canal on August 31, backing up maritime traffic, according to local media and analysis of the ship’s location in vessel tracking software. The vessel has now been released and is back on course.
Affinity V” blocked the southern section of the canal, according to CNN, but SCA informed that shortly after midnight local time traffic had returned to normal.
In fact, the incident occurred in the same southern, single-lane stretch of the canal where the Ever Given ran aground for six days in March 2021, disrupting global trade.
According to further reports, the tanker seemed to have lost control in the Suez Canal while heading south. After being refloated, the vessel is now facing south again, but moving slowly by tugboat assistance.
The Singapore-flagged tanker was headed for the Red Sea port of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia.
After the Ever Given ran aground, the Suez Canal Authority had announced accelerated plans to expand the canal, including extending a second channel that allows shipping to pass in both directions along part of its course and deepening an existing channel.
Work on the expansion is due to be completed in 2023.
Recent news regarding the Ever Given reported that claims related to the grounding, could amount to $2 billion. According to French insurer Scor SE the massive cost will largely be borne by the reinsurance sector.
The big lesson is that some sand and wind can potentially cause a tragedy of global proportions. This demonstrates the fragility of our economic and social models
said Sylvain Gauden, Chief Underwriting Officer, Marine and Energy, Reinsurance for Scor.
