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This huge ship got stuck sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal

A large container ship is stuck in the Suez Canal, blocking one of the more important waterways in the world

By Herb Scribner Herb Scribnerhscribner@deseretnews.com
SHARE This huge ship got stuck sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal
In this photo released by the Suez Canal Authority, a boat navigates in front of a massive cargo ship, named the Ever Green, rear, sits grounded Wednesday, March 24, 2021, after it turned sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking traffic in a crucial East-West waterway for global shipping. An Egyptian official warned Wednesday it could take at least two days to clear the ship.

In this photo released by the Suez Canal Authority, a boat navigates in front of a massive cargo ship, named the Ever Given, rear, which sits grounded Wednesday, March 24, 2021, after it turned sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking traffic in a crucial East-West waterway for global shipping. An Egyptian official warned Wednesday it could take at least two days to clear the ship.

Associated Press

A large container ship is stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal right now, blocking other ships from moving in either direction in what is one of the most important waterways in the world, according to CNN.

The ship is reportedly wedged sideways along the canal, blocking all the traffic behind it. It could take two days to clear the ship out.

What’s going on?

The Ever Given ship is stuck at the 94-mile mark of the canal after entering the waterway on Tuesday.

  • The ship ran aground when it was about 6 nautical miles away from the Evergreen Marine, the ship’s operating company, CNN reports

Julianne Cona, an engineer on the Maersk Denver, shared an Instagram post of the ship, saying:

  • “Ship in front of us ran aground while going through the canal and is now stuck sideways. Looks like we might be here for a little bit.”
  • “Right after they ran aground the ship behind us lost power and almost hit us,” Cona wrote on Instagram.

Are they trying to move it?

So right now, eight tug boats are looking to keep the ship afloat and move it.

Winds and a sandstorm caused poor navigation in the area. This storm caused an “inability to direct the ship,” George Safwat, a spokesman for the authority that oversees the canal, told The New York Times.

“The container accidentally ran aground after a suspected gust of wind hit it,” Evergreen Marine told Agence France-Presse. “The company has urged the shipowner to report the cause of the incident and has been in discussions with relevant parties including the canal management authority to assist the ship as soon as possible.”

There are over 100 ships stuck at both ends of the canal waiting for Ever Given to move, according to The New York Times.

Why it matters

The situation is a big deal. Global shipping companies often rely on the Suez canal to help move cargo across the world, according to The Washington Post. This will likely “add one more burden to a global shipping industry already battered by the coronavirus pandemic,” according to The New York Times.

And, per Axios, this could impact the price of crude oil across the world since there will be a delay in deliveries.

  • “Price support is coming courtesy of a transport blockage,” Stephen Brennock, who works for the oil broker PVM, told Reuters.