VSG Glory Grounds on Coral Reef, Pollution Contained

The general cargo vessel VSG Glory ran aground on November 22 near El Quseir, Egypt, following severe weather and a technical failure. The incident caused damage to the ship’s hull and led to a minor oil spill, prompting authorities to launch a containment operation.

The vessel, departing from Yemen, was carrying 4,000 tons of bran, 50 tons of solar oil, and 70 tons of diesel, along with 21 passengers onboard. Strong winds, high waves, and a mechanical malfunction caused the ship to lose control and crash into a coral reef, creating a 60cm hull fracture. The impact allowed seawater to flood the engine room and resulted in minor pollution in the surrounding waters.

Efforts to manage the oil spill began on November 23, spearheaded by the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) and the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) team. These efforts were initiated under the guidance of Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad.

To contain the spill, 200 meters of rubber barriers and 100 meters of oil-absorbent booms were deployed. Minister Fouad also ensured that police and health services were on standby to address any emergencies that might arise during the vessel’s refloating process.

Authorities and environmental organizations are continuing to monitor the situation and work toward minimizing the environmental impact of the incident.