Suez Canal returning to normal as cargo vessel refloated after running aground

Ugboat pulling the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier M/V Glory in the Suez Canal near al-Qantarah between Port Said and Ismailia. The cargo ship that ran aground in the Suez Canal early on January 9 has been refloated and the incident caused only "minor delays", the Norwegian shipping agency Leth said. (AFP)

• Canal on track to register 51 ships passing through waterway Monday after blockage cleared

CAIRO: Suez Canal maritime traffic was on Monday returning to normal after a cargo vessel that ran aground was refloated.

Egyptian authorities running the vital waterway said one of its rescue teams had towed away the 225-meter-long Marshall Islands-registered M/V Glory.

The bulk vessel became stuck after experiencing technical problems.

Lt. Gen. Osama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said navigation of the waterway in both directions was back on track with 51 ships due to pass through on Monday.

He added that the M/V Glory had been taken to nearby Al-Balah for repair work.

The 32-meter-wide ship was carrying more than 65,000 metric tons of corn from Ukraine bound for China when it ran into difficulties.