Cargo ship VSG Glory sinks off El Quseir reef

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VSG Glory begins its journey to the bottom of the reef (Photo: HEPCA)

By Mark 'Crowley' Russell

The cargo ship VSG Glory, which ran aground off the coast of El Quseir on 22 November – three days before the liveaboard Sea Story capsized with the loss of 11 lives – has now sunk next to the reef she struck.

The 100m (300ft) freighter was on its way from Hodeidah in Yemen to Port Tawfiq, located at the northern tip of the Egyptian Gulf of Suez, with a cargo of wheat bran when she lost power and drifted into the coral reef outside the Mövenpick Resort El Quseir.

Glory’s hull was split and some of the 70 tonnes of fuel oil she was carrying began to leak onto the reef. The fuel was eventually pumped from its tanks but heavy seas made work difficult, and worsened the damage to the ship, which developed a heavy list.

All members of the crew were safely evacuated.

By 30 November the ship had developed a hole almost 2ft (60cm) in length and was partly submerged towards the stern, before eventually sliding down the reef over the following days, where she now lies between 22m and 60m of depth.

Following the sinking, Mövenpick Resort El Quseir issued a statement thanking customers for their patience, and provided further details of the sinking.

Thank you for your patience during these challenging times. We delayed issuing a statement as the situation was constantly evolving, and we preferred to speak only from confirmed knowledge. Rest assured, had there been any immediate risk to our guests’ health and safety, we would have communicated it immediately, but thankfully, this was not the case.

Today, we want to share some details about the sinking of the VSG GLORY near our southern outer reef.

On 22 November 2024, the freighter, carrying wheat bran, lost propulsion and drifted into our southern outer reef. Damage to the hull made towing impossible, and despite round-the-clock efforts, the ship sank on 2 December 2024 after safely evacuating the crew. The wreck now lies between 22 and 60 meters deep.

Fortunately, our Al Quadim Bay corals were minimally affected, with little damage confined to the southernmost tip. The reef south of the bay sustained more but still limited damage, and the site of the sinking, rarely visited by our divers, unfortunately experienced significant damage. We are planning restoration activities in the first two areas, including reattaching corals and removing debris.

On 23 November 2024, a limited quantity of oil pollution did escape the hull of the ship, which was carried south by the currents. PetroSafe Company managed to protect the hotel’s southern shores from pollution residue by installing absorbing skimmers. Our bay and northern reef were not affected.

During the sinking on 2 December 2024, polluted water escaped the engine room, and was again carried south. Some traces did enter our bay that time and were cleaned up within a few hours. A fuel smell was noticeable in the days after the sinking, caused by evaporating fuels. Although our hotel was thankfully spared serious pollution, reported oil spots in southern locations were cleaned up immediately by PetroSafe company, supported by HEPCA, and the El Quseir Environment office.

Current assessments indicate that the wreck and its contents pose no immediate risk to the surrounding area. Monitoring efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety and preservation of the environment.

Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, has launched a program to restore the Red Sea ecosystem, starting in El Quseir. This includes continuous environmental monitoring and studies to restore the marine ecological balance, in collaboration with the UNDP.

While saddened by the incident, we are relieved our resort was spared significant harm and are happy to let you know that nothing stands in your way to enjoy a magnificent time in our little slice of paradise.

Mark 'Crowley' Russell
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Filed under: Briefing
Tagged with: Egypt, Red Sea, Wreck Diving

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