After the grounding and sinking of the VSG Glory off the coast of El Quseir in the Egyptian Red Sea, Mövenpick Resort El Quseir has issued the following statement.
Thank you for your patience during these challenging times. We delayed issuing a statement as the situation was constantly evolving, and we preferred to speak only from confirmed knowledge. Rest assured, had there been any immediate risk to our guests’ health and safety, we would have communicated it immediately, but thankfully, this was not the case.
Today, we want to share some details about the sinking of the VSG GLORY near our southern outer reef.
On 22 November 2024, the freighter, carrying wheat bran, lost propulsion and drifted into our southern outer reef. Damage to the hull made towing impossible, and despite round-the-clock efforts, the ship sank on 2 December 2024 after safely evacuating the crew. The wreck now lies between 22 and 60 meters deep.
Fortunately, our Al Quadim Bay corals were minimally affected, with little damage confined to the southernmost tip. The reef south of the bay sustained more but still limited damage, and the site of the sinking, rarely visited by our divers, unfortunately experienced significant damage. We are planning restoration activities in the first two areas, including reattaching corals and removing debris.
On 23 November 2024, a limited quantity of oil pollution did escape the hull of the ship, which was carried south by the currents. PetroSafe Company managed to protect the hotel’s southern shores from pollution residue by installing absorbing skimmers. Our bay and northern reef were not affected.
During the sinking on 2 December 2024, polluted water escaped the engine room, and was again carried south. Some traces did enter our bay that time and were cleaned up within a few hours. A fuel smell was noticeable in the days after the sinking, caused by evaporating fuels. Although our hotel was thankfully spared serious pollution, reported oil spots in southern locations were cleaned up immediately by PetroSafe company, supported by HEPCA, and the El Quseir Environment office.
Current assessments indicate that the wreck and its contents pose no immediate risk to the surrounding area. Monitoring efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety and preservation of the environment.
Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, has launched a program to restore the Red Sea ecosystem, starting in El Quseir. This includes continuous environmental monitoring and studies to restore the marine ecological balance, in collaboration with the UNDP.
While saddened by the incident, we are relieved our resort was spared significant harm and are happy to let you know that nothing stands in your way to enjoy a magnificent time in our little slice of paradise.
We understand you may have questions, but kindly note that we won’t be answering them in this forum.
Warm regards,
Mövenpick Resort El Quseir
