Concerns have been raised regarding the presence of the sunken cargo ship FENER near the shores of the Port Said Governorate, which sank in mid-January.
Though official sources insist that the sunken ship pose no danger, the former director of the Port Said Beaches Department Ehab Shata warned of the ship’s continued presence in the sea near the governorate’s shores.
The ship has remained in the sea for approximately 20 days, he noted, causing cavities in the seabed.
Shata noted that the FENER’s draft is 3.5 meters, increasing the likelihood of it sinking completely due to the rip currents it generates, which pose potential risks to beachgoers.
“Curiosity will make it a magnet for vacationers to swim in and around it, which poses a significant risk to their lives, especially with the frequent storms,” he warned.
Due to the sunken ship’s sized, he added that the longer it remains, the greater the erosion it causes, both inland and at the seabed.
Shata continued, “With the grounding and presence of this ship, the erosion will increase, and the likelihood of sinking will rise. We won’t know the full extent of the damage until after the disaster.”
He called for swift action to address the ship and remove its presence just meters from the shoreline before the summer season.
An official source in Port Said Governorate said that there is no danger from the presence of the ship “FENER” on the governorate’s beach, noting that there has been no leakage of fuel or cargo from the ship so far.
He added that there is full coordination between the relevant authorities, including the Suez Canal Authority, the Environment Ministry, the governorate, and the Coastal Protection Authority, to monitor the situation.
