MV Salem Express Sinking Incident Explained

The MV Salem Express sinking incident was a tragic maritime disaster that occurred on December 15, 1991. The ferry was traveling from Port Said to Jeddah when it encountered a severe storm.

The ferry was carrying over 800 passengers and crew members, many of whom were Egyptian pilgrims returning from the Hajj. The ferry was not equipped with enough life jackets for everyone on board.

The storm caused the ferry to list severely, making it difficult for passengers to move around. The ferry's cargo, including cars and trucks, shifted during the storm, further destabilizing the vessel.

The ferry eventually capsized, with only a few passengers managing to escape the sinking ship.

The Red Sea is home to many shipwrecks, but the MV Salem Express is one of the most fascinating.

Located in 30 meters/100 ft of seawater, the wreck lies on its port side.

The visibility was good on the day of the dive, allowing the diver to see the two giant propellers and the rudder.

Lifeboats are supposed to carry people to safety when a ship sinks, but in this case, one lifeboat was found on the bottom of the ocean.

The diver saw a radio and television set laying in the sand, which was likely placed there by previous divers.

Further towards the bow, the diver saw the big exhausts, full of life.

Lots of coral has grown on the ship since it sank, covering the name "Salem Express" on the side.

The captain's deck is located near the front of the ship, and the diver swam into the room of the captain and saw his bed.

The cargo zone can be accessed via an open hatch, where remnants of cars can still be found.

The diver came across wheelbarrows with mattresses in them, and suitcases, while exploring the ship's corridors.

A light was visible penetrating back into the wreckage, reminding the diver of the tragic accident that occurred.

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The MV Salem Express was a ferry that met its demise on December 15, 1991, after hitting a submerged rock in the Red Sea.

The ferry was traveling from Port Said to Jeddah, carrying over 800 passengers and crew members.

The incident occurred at around 3:30 am, when the ferry struck a rock formation known as the "Cape Guardafui" reef.

The Salem Express's final voyage was a standard 450-mile journey from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Safaga, Egypt.

The ship had been making this route since 1988, but its departure was delayed by two days due to a mechanical fault in Saudi Arabia.

The ship was carrying around 350 passengers, mostly Egyptian labourers traveling home for the holidays, as well as around 150 pilgrims returning from Mecca.

These passengers were dressed in fine clothes to celebrate, and many had luggage packed with gifts for their family members.

The ship's crew, familiar with the waters, was in a hurry to reach their destination, hoping to get a full overnight stop to rest at Safaga before continuing to Suez.

The ship was taking a shortcut, which was not authorised for night passage, and it struck a reef, causing a hole in the forward starboard bow.

The ship sank within 20 minutes, with the crew and passengers on board.

Divers have shared their experiences at the Salem Express wreck site, providing valuable insights into the dive conditions and the significance of the site.

Dick Newman planned a dive holiday to Safaga, specifically to dive the Salem Express, in 2015. He was looking for a hotel and dive operator in the area.

Sergey visited the site approximately 12 years ago, describing it as a "very sad story, but great" experience. His visit highlighted the importance of respecting the boat and its guests.

Fabio Guglielmi dived the site twice, in 2013 and 2019, during diving holidays in Hurghada. He noted that the site is a great dive spot, but requires respect for the boat and its history.

Here are the dive logs from Fabio Guglielmi's two visits:

These dive logs demonstrate the consistent water temperature and varying dive conditions at the Salem Express wreck site.