Records relating to Blue Funnel vessels trapped in the Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal following the Six Day War between Israel and Egypt, 1967.
OA/1046
Information
14 merchant ships were marooned in the Great Bitter Lake, an area of the Suez Canal, at the start of the Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt, 1967. They were trapped there for eight years until Egypt reopened the canal in 1975. Four of the ships were British-flagged, including three from Liverpool shipping lines: MS Melampus and MS Agapenor from Blue Funnel Line, and MS Scottish Star from Blue Star Line. The fourth British ship was MS Port Invercargill of the London-based Port Line.