Maritime rescue operations are underway in the Suez Canal after a tugboat sank due to a collision with the LPG tanker China Gas Legend, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie said on Saturday, according to Egypt's State Information Service.

 

According to the Suez Canal Authority, a collision between the tanker “ChinaGas Legend” and one of the authority's tugboats "Fahd" occurred in the km 51 area of the Al-Balah bypass.

 

This resulted in openings in the tugboat's hull, causing water ingress and subsequent sinking, stated the report.

 

Rabie said the collision occurred while the tanker was crossing the Suez Canal as part of the southbound convoy on its journey from Singapore to the US. However, the traffic in the Suez Canal was not affected by the incident, he added.