Tourist Boat Sinks in Red Sea with Passengers and Crew Onboard

Cairo (Eurotoday) – A tourist boat sank off Egypt’s Marsa Alam, with rough weather causing casualties. Five survivors were rescued; eight remain missing.

A boat sank off the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam with 31 tourists of different nationalities and 13 staff members on board. It has not been verified what caused the four-deck motor yacht to topple. Still, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority cautioned against rough weather, informing against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday in the Red Sea.

According to the Red Sea Governorate, four bodies have been recovered from the yacht and five more people were found alive including two Belgian tourists, an Egyptian, a Swiss national, and a Finnish national. Rescue teams were still scouring for eight missing people. Provincial governor Amr Hanafi stated rescue teams had found five people alive—two Belgian tourists, one Swiss, one Finn, and an Egyptian—bringing the total number of survivors to 33.

Moreover, Hanafi stated the boat had passed its last safety review in March with no technical issues noted. Owned by an Egyptian national, the vessel was 34 meters long and had acquired a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority. The incident happened during rough weather conditions. The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority informed us that wave heights of 3-4 meters and wind speeds of 34 knots were in the area, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

What was this vessel doing and what do we know about the boat?

The boat named Sea Story was a liveaboard diving boat and was one of dozens of similar yachts that take divers out to some of the most thrilling underwater locations on the planet with reefs, wrecks, and colourful fish. Sea Story was built out with 16 double cabins, so room for 32 divers, and a usual team of 12—eight seafarers and four kitchen staff. She was very modern, made in 2022.

What is the significance of the Red Sea?

The Red Sea, well-known for its coral reefs and marine life, is a significant hub for Egypt’s tourism industry, which plays a crucial role in the country’s economy. Red Sea Governorate is one of the 27 governorates of Egypt. Located between the Nile and the Red Sea in the southeast of the country, its southern border forms part of Egypt’s border with Sudan.