JEDDAH, 21 December 2002 — An 89-year-old woman pilgrim drowned in the Red Sea after falling from an Egyptian ship in the hustle and bustle on the crowded ship’s deck recently, according to a high-ranking official of the Jeddah Islamic Port.
The accident on the ship Salama carrying pilgrims from the Suez port to Jeddah was first reported from the high seas off the port.
Saher Tahlawi, director of the Jeddah Islamic Port, told Arab News that after the ship was docked at the port a written report on the accident was received from the captain who confirmed that it happened before entering the port. Tahlawi also said it was difficult to undertake rescue operations while the ship was cruising in the sea.
In another development, the port authorities fined a shipping company SR10,000 for carrying 650 passengers in excess of its permitted capacity.
The ship Taiba 2000 was also fined SR10,000 for her failure to arrive at the port on time.
Tahlawi said the difficulties experienced by the returning pilgrims have been solved finally as an average 15,000 pilgrims are leaving the port during the past 10 days.
