The Affinity V “ran aground in the Suez Canal at 7.15pm”, a security source told AFP, adding that maritime traffic had been restored after “a short period of time”.

The incident was caused by “technical damage to the rudder resulting in a loss of control of the ship”, according to the Suez Canal Authority, which said the 64,000-tonne tanker had been “successfully refloated”.

The SCA said it had quickly mobilised more than five towing vehicles for the operation.

According to website Vessel Finder, the 250m long, Singaporean-flagged tanker is headed for the Saudi port of Yanbu.

The Suez Canal, a vital portal between Asia and Europe, sees about 10% of the world’s maritime trade.

Last year, super tanker Ever Given became wedged diagonally across the canal during a sandstorm, disrupting world trade for nearly a week.

According to the SCA, Egypt lost between US$12 million and US$15 million every day of the closure, while insurers estimated the global maritime trade suffered billions of dollars of lost revenue per day.

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved a project in May to widen and deepen the southern portion of the canal where the Ever Given had gotten stuck.