Suez Canal officials say there has been an unsuccessful attack on a container ship passing through the Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal Authority says the attempt to disrupt the flow of ships through the key waterway failed and there was no damage to the ship or the containers it carried.
The authority's statement did not specify what kind of attack it was but shipping sources have told Reuters they heard the sound of two explosions as the ship passed through the canal.
"The situation was dealt with strictly by the armed forces," the statement said.
Egypt has faced a string of militant attacks in the lawless North Sinai region after the army, prompted by mass protests, overthrew the country's first elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July.
It was not immediately clear whether the attempted attack was related to Mr Morsi's ousting, Reuters reports.
American warship San Antonio passed through the waterway on Thursday to join other ships in the Mediterranean that could be used in any strike against Syria.
The armed forces have issued an order to strengthen their security measures along the Suez waterway, the canal authority said.
