The Suez Canal successfully facilitated the transit of the ADMARINE260 rig on Saturday, employing a non-standard towing and piloting procedure. The Liberian-flagged rig, measuring 45 metres long and 48 metres wide with a total weight of 3,543 tonnes, was towed by three Suez Canal Authority (SCA) tugboats and guided by a team of senior pilots and tug captains during its journey from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. The operation required specific navigational arrangements, including reducing the rig's height to enable passage under the El Salam Bridge. This was achieved by increasing the rig's draught and scheduling the transit during low tide. The 22-hour transit began with the rig's arrival at Port Said, where it was connected to the main tugboat, "Baraka," for towing. Two additional SCA tugs, "Port Said 3" and "Suez 3," were attached for steering and directional control, taking into account wind and water currents to maintain the rig's position in the canal's centre. The ADMARINE260 was incorporated into the last northbound convoy in the early hours of Saturday morning. A moderate speed was maintained during periods of daytime fog. In the canal's middle section, the rig was redirected into the New Suez Canal, taking advantage of the straighter route and reduced curves for safer and smoother passage. Twelve senior SCA pilots oversaw the transit, with three pilots assigned to each of the canal's three sectors, one pilot at Port Said, and two at Suez. The operation was coordinated with the main traffic control centre and monitored by traffic offices in Port Said and Suez, as well as guidance stations along the canal. SCA Chairperson Osama Rabie stated that the Suez Canal continues to provide safe passage for all types of vessels, including those requiring non-traditional transit methods, while maximizing the economic benefits of the route compared to alternatives. He reaffirmed the canal's position as the optimal, fastest, and safest maritime passage.
