A crew member has died after the Sea Spirit liveaboard sank near Jabal al-Zeit, north of Hurghada, in Egypt’s Red Sea.
According to Egyptian authorities, the vessel was operating without passengers when the incident occurred. Five crew members were on board. Four were rescued, while one later died after reportedly suffering an electric shock during the emergency.
Rescue Operation
Local authorities said a distress call triggered an immediate response involving marine rescue units, including vessels operated by the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company (GUPCO). Rescue teams recovered four surviving crew members before transporting them ashore.
Egyptian media report that the fifth crew member was recovered alive but later died in hospital after suffering an apparent electrical shock. While that detail has been widely reported by multiple Egyptian news organisations, authorities have not yet released a detailed forensic report into the death.
At the time of writing, officials have not released the identity of the deceased crew member.
No Divers or Tourists on Board
Unlike several recent high-profile Red Sea maritime incidents, no guests, divers or tourists were aboard Sea Spirit when the vessel sank.
The incident therefore did not involve a liveaboard safari in progress, reducing the potential for a larger tragedy.
Authorities have not yet announced what caused the vessel to sink, and an investigation is expected to examine whether mechanical failure, flooding, electrical problems or other factors contributed to the loss of the vessel.
Latest in a Series of Red Sea Vessel Incidents
Although unrelated to previous accidents, the sinking adds to a series of maritime incidents involving tourism vessels in Egypt’s Red Sea over the past two years.
These include the loss of Sea Story in November 2024, the sinking of Triton in early 2025, and other incidents that have prompted increased scrutiny of vessel safety standards within Egypt’s dive tourism sector.
At present, there is no evidence linking the Sea Spirit incident to those earlier accidents, and investigators have not released any preliminary findings.
Investigation Underway
Officials are expected to determine:
- Why Sea Spirit sank.
- Whether any equipment or electrical failures occurred.
- The precise circumstances surrounding the crew member’s reported electrocution.
- Whether additional safety recommendations are required.
The Scuba News will continue to follow the investigation and publish updates as more information becomes available.
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