Salem Express

The Salem Express, 115 meters long and 17 meters wide, was a ferry built in 1964. On its final voyage from Saudi Arabia to Safaga in 1991, the ferry sank just south of Shaab Sheer. The cause of the sinking was a collision with a reef.   There is much speculation about the number of fatalities, but the only certainty is that this was a major tragedy in the history of maritime accidents.   Today, the Salem Express lies on a sandy bottom at a depth of 30 meters. The minimum depth of the wreck is 12 meters. The superstructure and the stern are worth seeing, but given the tragedy of the sinking, some divers find the atmosphere at the wreck somewhat somber.   Ship Data

Length	115 m
Width	18 m
Vessel Type	Ro-Ro ferry
Propulsion	Diesel engines, bow thruster
Cargo on the last voyage	Passengers, trucks, cars
Launch	November 30, 1964
Sinking	December 14, 1991
Minimum depth	12 m
Maximum depth	30 m