MAINTENANCE WORKS KICK-OFF AT EGYPT SUEZ CANAL AUTHORITY

The Suez Canal Authority announced Sunday the completion of the reparation of the dry bulk carrier ZOGRAFIA over four days and that it had resumed its journey within the north-bound caravan.

The works included the replacement of some iron parts of the vessel’s body, and restoration of main balance pipes as well as hydraulic strut pipes. The ship was targeted by Houthis at Bab Al Mandab Strait while heading from Vietnam to Israel on January 16, as reported by Reuters. It was empty of cargo, and had 24 crew on board.

Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, Admiral Ossama Rabiee had announced Monday the Authority’s readiness to cooperate with its client shipping lines and shipping agencies to minimize the impact of the current situation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab through providing all the necessary navigational services, maintenance, and repair services the transiting vessels may need in case of breakdowns or emergencies.

He stated that the Suez Shipyard Co., one of the SCA affiliated companies, has received the dry bulk carrier ZOGRAFIA, which berthed at the western side of the floating dock of a capacity of 55 thousand tons aided by SCA tugboats in preparation for completing the necessary maintenance and repair works after the vessel’s hull and other parts of it have sustained external and internal damage as a result of an attack on it during its journey through the Red Sea on January 16th of this year.

The length of the vessel sailing under the flag of Malta is 190 m., while its beam is 32 m., and its current draught is approximately 6 m.

He also clarified that immediately upon the owners of ZOGRAFIA contacted the Suez Canal Authority about the incident, the SCA’s mobile team was directed to conduct a technical inspection and assess the damages sustained by the vessel upon its arrival at the Suez anchorage area. Prior to that, communication had been established with the Greek vessel-owning company during its navigation through the Red Sea to determine the status of the vessel and the safety of its crew.

Adm. Rabiee has stressed that the SCA will spare no effort to provide a all the navigational and maritime services that ensure maintaining the normal flow of traffic through the Canal and maintain the sustainability of global supply chains, and will maintain the continuous and effective communication with all of its clients to minimize the impact of the current situation in the Red Sea.

SOURCE: EgyptToday