THE Egyptian Army is strengthening security along the Suez Canal, following a terrorist attack on a the Panama-flagged 10,062-TEU Cosco Asia as it was leaving the north end of the waterway, reports GAC's Hot Port News.
Suez Canal Authority chief Mohab Memish, said the attack was aimed at disrupting the flow of ships through the canal, adding that the attack did no damage to the ship or the containers.
But Lloyd's List Casualty reported, citing the local Lloyd's agent, said the six-year-old containership had a fire and an explosion in a container while leaving the canal with the northbound convoy. The fire was put out, and the ship stopped for a damage survey.
Suez Canal Authorities said "terrorist elements" staged an unsuccessful attack on Cosco Asia "in an attempt to disrupt the flow of vessels through the waterway", the head of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Memish told Reuters.
"The attempt failed completely and there were no damages reported to the vessel or to the containers it carried. The situation was dealt with strictly by the armed forces," he said.
An army source told Reuters that there were three arrests of people who opened fire with machine guns on the containership.
Maersk told Lloyd's List there was "no change for now" to its schedule of operations through the canal but that it was "monitoring the situation".
Lloyd's List reported mid-August that operations at the canal were "running smoothly" as a national state of emergency was declared.
Maritime security contractor GoAGT operations chief Gerry Northwood said heightened security should be implemented now. "Masters need to have a plan, train for it with their crews and have sufficient experience onboard to gain valuable minutes in mustering and safeguarding crew," he said.
Suez Canal Authority chief Mohab Memish, said the attack was aimed at disrupting the flow of ships through the canal, adding that the attack did no damage to the ship or the containers.
But Lloyd's List Casualty reported, citing the local Lloyd's agent, said the six-year-old containership had a fire and an explosion in a container while leaving the canal with the northbound convoy. The fire was put out, and the ship stopped for a damage survey.
Suez Canal Authorities said "terrorist elements" staged an unsuccessful attack on Cosco Asia "in an attempt to disrupt the flow of vessels through the waterway", the head of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Memish told Reuters.
"The attempt failed completely and there were no damages reported to the vessel or to the containers it carried. The situation was dealt with strictly by the armed forces," he said.
An army source told Reuters that there were three arrests of people who opened fire with machine guns on the containership.
Maersk told Lloyd's List there was "no change for now" to its schedule of operations through the canal but that it was "monitoring the situation".
Lloyd's List reported mid-August that operations at the canal were "running smoothly" as a national state of emergency was declared.
Maritime security contractor GoAGT operations chief Gerry Northwood said heightened security should be implemented now. "Masters need to have a plan, train for it with their crews and have sufficient experience onboard to gain valuable minutes in mustering and safeguarding crew," he said.
