Egypt's Maritime Inspection Commission stopped the passenger ferry ‘Oman' from sailing from the Egyptian port of Nuweiba to the Jordanian port of Aqaba today after detecting technical defaults that would hamper its journey. Sources in the port of Nuweiba told Youm7 that the Maritime Safety Authority refused to allow the boat to sail and gave it a deadline to deal with defects and technical problems. The ship was moved from Safaga to replace the passenger ferry Billa that caught fire en route from Aqaba to Nuweiba last week. One Jordanian died after jumping into the sea and 12 Egyptians were injured in the incident. The source said both ferries are owned by the Gesr el-Arab company, which is owned by Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. He said there is still an ongoing crisis amongst cargo ferries after the Billa incident. There are 200 food cargo ferries stuck in Nuweiba port in addition to another 100 other cargo ferries. Youm7 attempted to get a statement from the Gesr el-Arab company, but Vice President Gen. Nabil Lotfy refused to give a statement.
