The Suez Canal was blocked and some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes snarled with traffic after a “supercargo” container ship became wedged across it overnight.
The Ever Given is one of the largest ships in the world at 400 metres long and 59 metres wide. It is thought to have twisted in high winds. Its bow was left aground on the eastern bank, on the Sinai Peninsula side of the canal. Its stern was left aground on the west, on the Egyptian mainland.
The vessel, which can carry 20,000 containers, was heading towards the Mediterranean, destined for Rotterdam. It had travelled three and a half miles into the canal after passing Suez city when it became stuck. Satellite tracking showed a large build up of sea traffic behind it in the canal and in the southern approaches in the Red Sea.
Tug boats have been dispatched to try pull it clear. Egyptian authorities said it could take two days to shift.
The Ever Given is part of the fleet of Evergreen, a Taiwanese firm that is among the world’s largest shipping companies.
Taiwan’s main news agency said the company was investigating but that no one was hurt and none of the containers on board had been lost.
The canal is about 120 miles long including its access channels and about 200 metres wide. It takes 12 hours to navigate