Maritime Casualties--March 16, 2010
Latest maritime casualty news.
• Strong Winds Disrupt Suez Canal
Shipping through Egypt's Suez Canal was disrupted by heavy sandstorm winds on Sunday, slowing traffic and closing surrounding ports in the Gulf of Suez.
Traffic was cut to the lowest level in two decades, with four Red Sea ports closing and 15 ships prevented from exiting or entering them. Red Sea Ports Authority officials reported the ports were closed Sunday until further notice due to high waves and winds that reached speeds of 22 knots an hour.
Suez Canal officials reported only 26 ships passed through the canal because of the strong winds and prompted a warning to ship captains. Ships in the canal's southern tip were asked to slow down but the northern sector was unaffected.