Egypt races to salvage sinking cargo ship (VIDEO)

Egyptian authorities are working to salvage a cargo ship that began to sink on Monday after being stranded for ten days near coral reefs off Quseir in the Red Sea Governorate.

Maritime sources reported that the VSG Glory, carrying 4,000 tons of bran, 70 tons of diesel, and 50 tons of solar fuel, began taking on water after sustaining damage. All 21 crew members on board were safely rescued.

Efforts to stabilize the vessel have been hindered by worsening weather conditions, which have caused it to tilt further. Emergency teams have deployed additional pumps to extract water and prevent it from sinking fully.

The VSG Glory, traveling from Yemen to Egypt’s Port Tawfik, has been the focus of salvage efforts led by the Red Sea Governorate and the Ministry of Environment. The operations have successfully extracted 250 tons of contaminated water and fuel. However, sources report that some fuel still remains on board, presenting a serious risk to the region’s delicate coral reef ecosystem.

A video published on X shows water leaking into the engine room. 

Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said severe tilting and cracks on the right side of the vessel had caused it to sink, and this was exacerbated by adverse weather conditions, making repairs impossible.

She said “the last members of the ship’s crew were disembarked and handed over to the investigating authorities.”

To mitigate environmental risks, Fouad ordered additional barriers to be installed to absorb potential oil spills, and instructed teams to ensure that no wreckage from the ship reaches nearby beaches or tourist areas.

It’s the second maritime disaster in the Red Sea in the past month. On November 25, a tourist boat capsized near Marsa Alam, south of Quseir, leaving at least four dead and seven missing, while 33 passengers were rescued.