Seven Crew Abandon Ship as Seahorse Lists Off Lebanon
Lebanese authorities rescued seven panicked crewmembers after the 9,483 dwt cargo ship began listing near Sidon.
A cargo ship off the coast of Lebanon experienced a severe listing incident on October 25, prompting seven crew members to jump overboard in panic before being rescued by authorities. The vessel, later stabilized, was towed to Beirut for further inspection and cargo offloading.
The Seahorse, a 100-meter (328-foot) general cargo ship built in 1997 and registered in Panama, was transporting timber from Turkey when it began tilting dangerously as it neared the port of Sidon. Initial reports suggested the cargo had shifted, causing the vessel to list. Despite the growing instability, the captain initially assured authorities the situation was “under control” and that no assistance was needed.
Incident unfolds near Sidon port: Seven Crew
As the ship’s tilt worsened, seven crew members, fearing an imminent capsize, leapt into the sea. Lebanese Civil Defence teams launched a rescue operation, successfully retrieving all seven from the water. The remaining nine crew members, including the captain, stayed aboard the vessel.
Upon boarding the Seahorse, authorities found the ship’s severe angle made movement nearly impossible. Inspections revealed 3.5 to 4 meters (11.5 to 13 feet) of water in the number 5 cargo hold, likely due to undetected flooding. Emergency pumping reduced the water level to 50 to 60 centimeters (1.6 to 2 feet), allowing the vessel to be deemed stable enough for relocation. The ship was subsequently moved to the Port of Beirut, where plans were made to offload its cargo to prevent further risks.
Questions over vessel’s maintenance history
The Seahorse, managed by a Lebanese company, has a documented history of deficiencies in port state inspections, with issues recorded as far back as 2013. The most recent inspections, conducted in December 2025, identified multiple deficiencies, though the exact cause of the water ingress remains unclear. Lebanese authorities have not yet disclosed what malfunction led to the flooding.
The vessel remains anchored in Beirut as authorities continue efforts to offload its cargo and investigate the incident’s root cause.
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