Suez Canal Reopened After Giant MSC Fabiola is Refloated

MSC Fabiola aground in the Suez Canal.

The 366-meter containership MSC Fabiola was refloated in the Suez Canal this weekend after running hard aground last Thursday.

According to the shipping agency GAC, the 12,500 TEU containership was refloated just after 1 a.m. Saturday morning and resumed its southbound transit to Suez escorted by five tugs. As of Monday, the ship was at a Suez anchorage outside of canal waters.

GAC reported that the ship grounded last Thursday (April 28) at kilometer 144 at about 16:30 local time after experiencing engine trouble. The vessel was part of a 20-vessel convoy when the grounding occurred.

The grounding forced canal officials to suspend all northbound convoys and stop all southbound convoys at Great Bitter Lakes until the ship was refloated.

According to the Suez Canal Authority, the southbound convoy, which was being held at Great Bitter lakes, was allowed to resume transit at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, after which the Northbound Convoy was to be rescheduled and resumed.

The Portuguese-flagged MSC Fabiola is chartered by Mediterranean Shipping Company and operated by the German company Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG.

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