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Efforts are underway in Egypt's El Quseir to contain an oil slick caused by the sinking of the cargo ship VSG Glory near the shore on 2 December.Ìý

The ship, en route from Yemen to Egypt's Port Tewfik, on 22 November due to severe weather. The impact ruptured the lower hull of the 300-foot coastal freighter, flooding its interior with seawater.Ìý

Greenpeace MENA reports the cargo included 4,000 metric tonnes of bran, 70 tonnes of fuel oil, and 50 tonnes of diesel. The incident caused a fuel spill, with some of the ship's 70-tonne oil reserves leaking and drifting onto several beaches in El Quseir.

"On December 2, the vessel overturned onto the coral reefs near Quseir, creating a 60 cm breach in its hull, flooding the engine room," Kenzy Azmy, Campaigns Officer at Greenpeace MENA, told °®Âþµº. "Despite efforts to offload fuel reserves, a spill has been reported."

Extensive efforts have been made over the past several days including a task force, supported by the Egyptian Navy and in collaboration with the Red Sea Marine Protected Areas team, the regional office of the Environmental Affairs Agency, the General Petroleum Authority, has been working to contain the oil spill and protect the area’s marine ecosystem and tourism interests, according to a statement by Egypt's Ministry of Environment.

Despite multiple attempts to prevent the ship from sinking, "deteriorating weather and extensive hull damage ultimately caused the vessel to capsize," the statement read.

Emergency teams have deployed additional oil-absorbent barriers to prevent further contamination and safeguard the surrounding marine environment.

"Fortunately, the ship was not carrying petroleum cargo. However, the fuel onboard, approximately 100 tonnes, has leaked into the water," Azmy told TNA. "While this is not a massive quantity, it is substantial enough to severely affect the coral reefs, a cornerstone of the Red Sea's marine ecosystem."

Hussein Junaidi, a faculty member at Tishreen University's Institute of Environmental Research, pointed out that the data present at the moment are not sufficient to assess the spill's full environmental impact.Ìý

"Key variables such as ocean currents, water depth, marine flora and fauna, and the type and quantity of the spilled fuel are essential for accurate evaluation," he explained. "Without this data, any conclusions would be speculative."

Azmy commended the Ministry of Environment for its initial response but stressed the need for further action.Ìý

"We need transparency regarding the amount of leaked fuel and what has been contained so far," she said. "Coordination with local and international environmental organisations is crucial for an effective response."

She called for a comprehensive environmental assessment involving local communities and independent research bodies.Ìý

"There must be a transparent and swift evaluation of the ecological damage, along with a long-term recovery plan for the affected ecosystems and compensation for impacted communities," Azmy added, urging stronger maritime safety policies to prevent future incidents.

Aly El-Sayed, founder of Bahar, a local environmental organisation in El Quseir, noted the importance of involving local stakeholders.Ìý

"Authorities should invite independent research organisations and civil society members from El Quseir to the site," he said. "Their input is vital for accurately assessing the environmental and social impacts of this incident."

This article is published in collaboration with .