Suez Canal Authority suspends traffic

20 December 2007
Traffic through the Suez Canal was suspended for six hours on 20 December after a Maltese oil tanker ran aground in the water channel.

A statement from the Suez Canal Authority said no oil was spilt from the 81,000-tonne 270-metre-long tanker.

According to the statement, the tanker became stranded after passing through the southern entrance of the canal when its steering gear failed.

A total of 59 ships were delayed on their routes in both directions as a result of the closure of the 195-kilometre-long passageway.

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