An LNG carrier that ran aground at the northern end of the Suez Canal today has been refloated.

Ship agents named the vessel as the 173,955-cbm Grace Emilia (built 2021).

The vessel ran aground at kilometre 125 in the Little Bitter Lake area.

Ship traffic was able to pass the vessel in both directions at all times.

Leth Agency said the ship grounded around noon today and was refloated at about 1740 local time.

Three tugs from the Suez Canal Agency attended the vessel.

Kpler data shows that the LNG carrier is in ballast and on charter to Gail (India). NYK chartered out the vessel to the Indian gas importer for five years in 2021.

GAC is understood to be the ship's agent for the vessel during its transit.

LNG carrier groundings attract particular interest due to concerns over their cargoes.

There is also heightened interest in ships running aground in the canal since the Evergreen’s 20,388-teu Ever Given (built 2018) blocked the key waterway for weeks in March 2021 severely disrupting world trade.