5:46pm UK, Friday February 03, 2006

Ferries like the Al Salam Boccaccio 98 have crossed the Red Sea for decades.

The ship was built in Tokyo in 1978 and launched as the Admiral Pacific.

180 GRAB missing egyptian ship

The Egyptian ferry

It has changed its name several times to St Clair, Al Qamar 1 and then Al Salam Boccaccio 98.

Despite its age the 6,651 tonne ship passed a structural survey and an International Safety Management Code inspection last year.

It is licensed to carry 1,170 passengers 'unberthed' and 866 'berthed' and was carrying more than 1,400 passengers and 220 vehicles when it went down.

The head of the Egyptian Maritime Authority, Mahfouz Taha Marzouk, said: "The ship complied with all necessary safety measures."

The ship is owned by the Egyptian firm El-Salaam Maritime Transport Co.

The company's owner, Mamdouh Ismail, said the ship is registered in Panama.