EGYPT’S SUEZ CANAL BLOCKED BY HUGE CONTAINER SHIP

The 200,000 t. vessel, operated by Taiwanese transport company EVERGREEN, ran aground and became lodged sideways across the waterway of Suez Canal. It is reported that such an incident could have occurred due to a deviation from the course because of strong wind.

Vessel should be removed from the shallows by tugs, but there are fears that the operation will drag on for several days. «Ever Given» was on its way from China to Rotterdam, the incident occurred at 7:40 am Kiev time on Tuesday, March 23.

The incident has already made a long traffic jam on the waterway, which making it impossible for other vessels to pass. Egypt has reopened the canal’s older channel to divert some traffic until the grounded ship can move again.

“This is the largest vessel ever to go aground in the Suez Canal”, said Dr Sal Mercogliano – US marine historian.