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posted ago by tenthousandspoons ago by tenthousandspoons +280 / -0

Frens, it's 11 pm, Egypt local time, and there is some interesting activity in the Great Bitter Lake. Big EG is still anchored there, but there's a new satellite beacon for a cargo ship right alongside EG, but no ship outline or further identifier of what ship it is. Also in the lake are three tugs, two "Mossad" brothers (Mosaed 2 & 3) and Mosaheb 2. Aaannnnd.....one other cargo ship lurking very close by, XIANG RUI KOU. It's a Chinese Heavy Load Carrier, appears to be mostly laden (Draught 8.3m/9.7 m max). Most interestingly, its point of origin is Rotterdam, Netherlands ....the EG's final destination. No other ships appear to be in the Lake right now.

Could that mystery cargo ship beacon be a crane ship? Is there offloading going on? I've read that canal authorities are holding EG in place until financial liabilities get sorted out, but does the same hold true for the cargo? Maybe this is all coincidence, but it definitely is outside the pattern of activity I've observed in the past couple of weeks.