Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), announced on Saturday that a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Authority’s Accident Investigation Committee into the grounding of the RED ZED 1 diving vessel confirmed that there were no human casualties or injuries. 

He added that the vessel remains generally intact, with damage currently being assessed at the site of the incident, according to a statement issued the SCA

Admiral Rabie noted that the Suez Canal Authority responded to the emergency with a high level of professionalism. The incident occurred on Friday when the RED ZED 1, part of the northbound convoy, experienced a sudden failure in its steering system, causing it to veer off course at kilometer 45 of the canal's marking system, near the Qantara West passenger ferry terminal.

The Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority affirmed that the swift and effective measures taken by the Authority successfully averted a potentially serious collision with the Qantara West ferry dock. He praised the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the Canal pilots aboard the RED ZED 1, who managed to prevent a direct, head-on impact between the vessel's hull and the dock. Instead, they executed a maneuver that resulted in a parallel collision, significantly minimizing potential damage.

Rabie also commended the proactive efforts of the Qantara Pilot Station supervisors, who quickly detected the vessel’s deviation from its course. Their timely intervention, including immediate coordination with the Qantara Ferry Terminal to evacuate all passengers and marine personnel at the site, played a crucial role in preventing any injuries or serious losses.

Rabie also confirmed that navigation in the Suez Canal was not affected by the incident, as the situation was fully contained within a record time of 60 minutes. He emphasized that the movement of citizens between the two banks of the Canal at the Qantara ferry crossing continued uninterrupted. The affected ferry was promptly replaced with a standby vessel, ensuring the continuity of service. In parallel, the relevant committees of the Authority initiated the necessary procedures to assess the damage and carry out the required repairs.