Tanzanian-Flagged Cargo Ship Abandoned Off Al-Khums Coast

Al-khums: The Ports and Maritime Transport Authority of the Ministry of Transportation in the Government of National Unity has issued an urgent navigational warning regarding a Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship that encountered a technical malfunction and was abandoned by its crew east of the city of Al-Khums last Saturday. According to Libyan News Agency, the warning was communicated in a letter addressed to several maritime and port authorities, including the Naval Staff, the Coast Guard and Ports Security Authority, the Search and Rescue Coordination Center, and various shipping companies. The alert aimed to inform ship owners, operators, and shipping agents about the situation. The warning, titled "Abandoned Vessel - Caution is Necessary," detailed that the cargo ship named "SIDER," identified by IMO number 9367164, encountered a technical failure on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 9:00 PM. The ship, with a gross tonnage of 2941 tons, a length of 89.08 meters, and a beam of 14.4 meters, was abandoned by its c rew who have since been rescued. The vessel is currently considered abandoned and was last reported in the maritime area northeast of Al-Khums, approximately 45 nautical miles from the Libyan coast, moving towards Malta. The Ports and Maritime Transport Authority has urged all ports and offshore platforms to maintain vigilance and readiness to address the situation should the vessel approach. Coordination with the Ports Authority is requested to ensure maritime safety and prevent any potential incidents.