Suez Canal Authority Tows Sanctioned Russian Tanker to Safety

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.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →