According to foreign media reports, MarineTraffic.com's AIS ship tracking data showed that an LNG carrier lost control and ran aground on the Suez Canal, resulting in a collision with another tanker.

At that time, there is a tanker also nearby, but it is not clear whether the tanker in the collision was affected.

MarineTraffic said it received eyewitness reports that the collision involved a Cayman oil tanker "Burri" and the Singapore-flagged LNG carrier "BW Lesmes". The two ships collided. The third tanker in the vicinity was the "Athens Spirit", flying the Bahamian flag.

Data show that the liquefied natural gas carrier "BW Lesmes" in the Suez Canal at the southern end of a section of the sideways, where there is only one channel.

When the collision occurred, the ships were heading south.

It is reported that the container ship "Ever Given" in March 2021 also ran aground in the same area, causing the waterway to be blocked for up to six days.

The latest AIS data show that the LNG carrier "BW Lesmes" no longer crosses the canal, and with tug assistance, the vessel remains in the area, with its bow facing north.

As of 7:50 a.m. Beijing time, the LNG carrier "BW Lesmes"'s sailing status has been changed back to "using engine sailing", and the tanker "Burri" indicates that it is at anchor.

It is unclear how the collision will affect Suez Canal operations.

Previously, the Panamanian maritime authorities on the container ship "Ever Given" incident investigation showed that in addition to speeding, strong winds and sandstorms caused by low visibility, the Suez Canal authorities in the grounding accident also had certain mistakes.

Source: Shipping Online