What Crew Members Say About Suez-Canal

On January 7, 2026, the Suez Canal experienced a significant setback when it was detained in Shanghai after being found with a total of eight deficiencies. Four of these deficiencies were deemed serious enough to warrant its detention: 1) Inoperative launching arrangements for life-saving appliances; 2) Non-functional fire dampers; 3) Fire safety standards not met regarding decks, bulkheads, and penetrations; 4) Inoperative fire pump and associated piping. Following the inspection, the vessel was released on January 9, 2026, and resumed its journey to Nansha. Prior to this incident, the Suez Canal was also detained in Shanghai on April 18, 2025, where it faced three deficiencies for three days. The vessel's inspection history highlights ongoing concerns regarding its compliance with maritime safety regulations.

On April 18, 2025, the vessel "Suez Canal" was detained in the bustling port of Shanghai, China, due to four noted deficiencies, two of which were deemed critical enough to warrant detention. The issues identified included: 1) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - UMS – Ship Not as required and 2) Fire safety – Inoperative fire pumps and their accompanying pipes. Fortunately, the ship was released on April 20 and continued its journey toward Ningbo. This recent incident marks the third detention for the Suez Canal vessel within a year. Previously, on February 21, 2025, the ship was detained in Qingdao for three days due to 12 deficiencies, and again on August 19, 2024, in Ningbo, where it faced 14 deficiencies over two days. The vessel's ongoing compliance challenges are attracting attention from maritime safety authorities.

On February 21, 2025, the cargo vessel 'Suez Canal' faced detention in Qingdao due to a total of 12 reported deficiencies, with five being significant enough to warrant the action. Key violations included inadequate embarkation arrangements for survival crafts, poorly maintained lifeboats, inoperative fixed fire extinguishing systems, improperly installed ventilators and air pipes, and failure to meet ISM certification standards. After rectifying these issues, the vessel was released on February 23 and subsequently set sail for Shanghai, where it arrived on March 1.

In a significant development for the shipping industry, SM Line has successfully finalized a new charter agreement for a period of 6 to 9 months focused on trading routes across Asia. This deal comes with a competitive daily rate of $16,300, reflecting a strong commitment to expanding operations in the region. The new charter is expected to bolster SM Line's presence in the Asia market, enhancing their service offerings and operational capacity over the coming months.