Egypt’s Suez-Canal blocked by giant container ship
Egypt's Suez Canal blocked by giant container ship
Egypt’s Suez-Canal blocked by giant container ship
Dozens of vessels are stuck after a giant container ship
became wedged across Egypt’s Suez Canal, one of the
world’s busiest trade routes.
Rescue boats are working to free the 400m long (1312ft) vessel,
which was knocked off course by strong winds.
Egypt says it has reopened the canal’s older channel to
divert traffic, amid fears it could remain blocked for days.
The incident has already created long tailbacks on the waterway,
stopping dozens of other vessels from passing.
About 12% of global trade passes through the Suez Canal,
which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and provides
the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe.
The Ever Given, registered in Panama,
was bound for the port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands from China
and was passing northwards through the canal on its way to the Mediterranean.
The 200,000 tonne ship, built in 2018 and operated by
Taiwanese transport company Evergreen Marine,
ran aground and became lodged sideways across the
waterway at about 07:40 local time (05:40 GMT) on Tuesday.
At 400m long – the length of four football pitches – and 59m
– wide, the ship has blocked the path of other vessels which
are now trapped in lines in both directions.
