An Egyptian cargo ship run by a government company sank in the Red Sea early Sunday with 37 on board, an official source has told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
The Taba, which was heading from Egypt’s Safaga seaport to Saudi Arabia’s Duba port, was transporting 43 trucks, according to the source who added that the ship belongs to the Egyptian Navigation Company, a government firm, and that initial losses are estimated at LE100 million.
Red Sea Governor Ahmed Abdallah said all of the ship’s crew had been rescued by a navy boat .
Sources at the maritime services said the vessel had probably lacked balance during its journey. “The weather condition and waves on the Red Sea were moderate. The ship sank 10 miles off the seaport and did not hit any rocks,” the source explained.
According to the source, the vessel had undergone its last safety check hours before the accident. Maintenance engineers had found no issues that would have required the ship to cancel the trip.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
