The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has stated it will not initiate salvage or technical removal operations for the vessel FENER unless a formal request is made by the ship’s owner or relevant parties, according to recent maritime updates.
The cargo vessel FENER, approximately 132 metres long and weighing 4,700 tonnes, ran aground on January 14 2026, near the northern entrance of the Suez Canal in the Mediterranean Sea, around five nautical miles from Port Said — outside the Canal’s navigable channel and outside SCA jurisdiction. Because of this, the authority reaffirmed that it currently has no mandate to manage its recovery.
The SCA emphasised that the ship’s grounding has not affected normal transit through the Suez Canal, and vessel movements along the world’s most important east-west maritime link continue without interruption.
All crew members on board the FENER were safely rescued early during the incident. SCA teams coordinated with local authorities, including the Maritime Safety Authority, Port Said Governorate, the Egyptian Navy, and environmental agencies to monitor the ship’s condition. No signs of fuel leakage or environmental contamination have been detected, and the vessel’s consumption of light diesel is believed to have limited potential pollution risk.
In its public statement, the SCA confirmed that it will provide technical support only if an official salvage request is submitted by the vessel’s owner or insurer. Until such a request is received, and responsibility is clearly assumed, the authority will maintain surveillance and cooperation with relevant maritime bodies.
