Hong Kong-flagged vessel briefly blocks Egypt’s vital Suez Canal

CAIRO (AP) — Officials say that a Hong Kong-flagged ship briefly blocked Egypt’s vital Suez Canal, the latest such incident in the busy waterway. According to Leth Agencies, a canal services company that oversees the waterway, the Xin Hai Tong 23 ran aground before dawn on Thursday at the southern entrance to the canal, blocking four vessels. The company says the ship was refloated by the Suez Canal Authority a few hours later, and normal traffic was restored. However, Egypt’s state-run Suez Canal Authority said the vessel had broken down during its transit through the canal due to engine failure. The two conflicting accounts as to how the incident unfolded could not be reconciled.