The Suez Canal Authority is highlighting its broad salvage capabilities available to shipping beyond the canal, including regional waters around Egypt. In the most recent incident, it reports providing salvage and towing services to a sanctioned Russian product tanker,
The Russian-flagged product tanker MT Alyssum (37273 dwt) reportedly experienced an engine failure off the coast of El Alamein, along Egypt’s central Mediterranean coast. The vessel, which was built in 2006, has a checkered history operating under sanctions from the United States, which listed it in January 2024 for repeated violations of the G7 price cap on Russian oil. The UK followed, listing the vessel in September 2025, and it is also included on other sanctions lists, including Canada and Ukraine.
In addition to its involvement in the Russian oil trade, the tanker has a history of name changes and flag hopping over the past few years. It has been listed under the Russian flag only since March 2026. Previously, it was falsely claimed to be operating under the flag of Guinea and, for a time in 2024, was not reporting any flag.
Its shadowy operations began after a reported sale in 2022, and the vessel is listed as having been sold again in 2024 and 2026. It changed names from Mona to Miley and now to Alyssum, with ownership listed in Russia.
AIS transmissions claim the vessel has been holding off the Egyptian coast since late September or early October. The Suez Canal Authority did not report when it towed the vessel, but said it had received a call for assistance and dispatched the Authority’s salvage tug Mohamed Beshir.
Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, pointed out that the SCA responded promptly to a request from Sphinx Shipping Agency to undertake the salvage and towing operation after the sudden failure of the tanker’s main engines off the coast of El Alamein.
The report highlighted that the tanker was towed 180 nautical miles in “record time.” The SCA said the vessel was put in the Port Said anchorage area to undergo necessary maintenance and repairs. The ship is transmitting a message currently on its AIS saying “Keep Safe Distance.”
The Suez Canal Authority highlights its expanded capabilities in its maritime fleet, citing its readiness to provide salvage and towing services, as well as to respond to potential emergencies, both within the Canal’s waterway and beyond.