Inside the Egypt Sea Story tourist boat that sank in Red Sea as Brits feared missing

A immense rescue ngo has ensued disconnected the seashore of Egypt for 17 radical missing astatine oversea who were travelling onboard a luxurious tourer vessel for a five-day driving trip

More than a twelve tourists are feared missing aft a 144ft-long vessel sunk disconnected the seashore of Egypt this morning.

The boat, named Sea Story, was carrying 45 radical - including 14 Egyptian unit members and 31 tourists - erstwhile it experienced an contented and sank adjacent to a fashionable diving destination Shaab Satayah, adjacent the tourer edifice of Marsa Alam. Seventeen radical are reported missing, nevertheless their nationalities are unknown.

According to section media tract Masrawy, respective nationalities were connected the vas for a five-day diving trip. The outlet reports 4 British and 2 American nationals were onboard, arsenic good arsenic 5 Spanish, 2 Belgian, 2 Swiss and 4 Egyptian holidaymakers. Authorities person present confirmed 28 radical person been rescued.

It's understood the diving travel departed from Porto Ghalib Port successful Marsa Alam connected Sunday and was expected to instrumentality to the larboard of Hurghada connected November 29. But astir 5.30am this morning, a subordinate of unit raised the alarm and the coastguard was sent retired to effort way them down.

It's unclear what caused the four-deck centrifugal yacht to sink, but section reports said a chopper and naval units were progressive successful the frantic search. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned connected Saturday astir turbulence and precocious waves connected the Red Sea and advised against maritime enactment for Sunday and Monday.

According to liveaboard.com, which books spaces connected the vessel, the Sea Story sails astir the Red Sea. It's said to beryllium capable to accommodate arsenic galore arsenic 32 passengers successful its 18 air-conditioned and en-suite duplicate rooms. Among the facilities connected committee are a fully-equipped restaurant, honeymoon suites, flat-screen TV and dependable system.

They connection respective antithetic trips, including the wrecks and "vibrant reeds" of the North Reefs, oregon the Deep South, which is champion for "shark enactment and distant diving". Its tract states that trips commencement astatine £126 per day.

Another online booking agent, No Troubles Just Bubbles, describes Sea Story arsenic being a "very fashionable boat" that was launched successful 2022. It states the vessel is "unlike astir different Red Sea diving liveaboards" due to the fact that it doesn't travel the modular format of different ships and alternatively has an other platform for "more abstraction to unbend connected board".

Its website reads: "All cabins person plentifulness of level space, independently-controlled aerial conditioning, and a backstage en suite bathroom. Fourteen of the cabins person 2 azygous beds, broadside by side. And determination are 4 honeymoon suites connected the precocious deck." There is besides an exposed sundeck for stargazing and an outdoor jacuzzi and indoor sauna.

The raving statement adds: "The views are great, the cabins large, and determination are 2 immense socialising areas; 1 extracurricular and 1 with aerial conditioning. It truly is the astir luxurious platform you volition find connected astir immoderate vessel successful the bluish Red Sea." It besides states the unit and dive unit are hard-working and service-minded.

Amr Hanafy, politician of the Red Sea region, said that hunt and rescue planes had been utilized to transport 16 radical from the water to section hospitals. The remainder were forced to enactment astatine the boat's last-known position, awaiting the accomplishment of Al-Fateh, an Egyptian warship, to rescue them.

Air and naval units were continuing to hunt for the missing, helium added. The politician did not supply an close toll connected the fig of the magnitude of fatalities, injuries and survivors. Hanafy told locals and foreigners to debar the clang tract arsenic rescue workers comb the water for survivors. He added however section weather conditions person made it much hard to behaviour hunt operations successful the area.

The Red Sea has agelong been a fashionable tourer destination for diving and different marine enthusiasts, known for its coral reefs and marine life, which are cardinal to Egypt's captious tourism industry. But galore tourer companies person stopped oregon constricted traveling connected the Red Sea owed to the dangers from conflicts successful the region.

The Mirror has contacted the the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the bureau of the Governor for the Egyptian Red Sea state for remark connected the sinking.

The Mirror has contacted Sea Story relation Diver Pro Liveaboard for further comment. The institution says it is alert of the concern unfolding but declined to connection immoderate much accusation oregon details.