Adm. Rabiee: "Success of the maritime salvage efforts of FENER after an increase in its listing and coming close to sinking"
The Suez Canal is ready to professionally handle possible emergencies.
All crew members are in good health, and medical assistance is provided to one of them suffering from a dislocated shoulder.
The SCA has introduced a new bundle of navigational and logistical services to meet the needs of its clients under regular circumstances and in emergencies.
Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, announced the success of the SCA's maritime salvage efforts and rescuing all the crew members of the general cargo vessel FENER today in the early morning hours, in addition to the immediate response to the distress call made by the Shipmaster to conduct the necessary rescue of the crew members after a 10 degree increase in the vessel's listing to starboard and coming close to sinking during its presence outside the waterway at the western anchorage area north of Port-Said; 5 miles to the west of the Suez Canal's northern entrance on the Mediterranean.
H.E. explained that as soon as the Port-Said Port Control Office and the Main Navigation Control Center received the call from the Shipmaster of FENER at 11:30 pm yesterday, two tugboats have been readied and three BAHAR class speedboats have been deployed to evacuate the entire vessel crew of 12 and secure the vessel during the crew rescue operation.
Adm. Rabiee conveyed a message of reassurance about the health condition of the crew members clarifying that they are all in good health, and medical assistance is provided to one of them suffering from a dislocated shoulder at the SCA's Canal Mooring and Lights Company's hospital.
H.E. lauded the efforts of the SCA's workers in all the different departments in their immediate handling of the emergency; where the Transit Department was responsible for the prompt deployment of marine units required for evacuating the crew, and the Services Department provided fully-equipped ambulances to transport the injured crew member to a hospital affiliated to the SCA where he will recieve medical assistance and be discharged. In addition to that, the SCA's Security and Public Relations Sections were tasked with collaborating with the competent authorities and providing logistical services as well as transporting the crew members to a hotel for accommodation at the latter's own request.
Adm. Rabiee underscored that the SCA's Crisis Management Committee is following the developments of this emergency around the clock and has increased readiness to take the necessary measures to handle it.
H.E. the Chairman added that the SCA has introduced a new bundle of navigational and logistical services to meet the needs of its clients under regular circumstances and in emergencies; most notably the water ambulance and crew change services.
Adm. Rabiee concluded his statement by stressing the SCA's readiness to handle possible emergencies with professionalism thanks to an integrated system that employs experienced maritime personnel, accumulated expertise in maritime salvage, and marine units specialized in maritime salvage, navigational safety and pollution control.
It is worth mentioning that the vessel is 122 m. in length, has a draft of 3.5 m. and a tonnage of 4 thousand tons.