The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel’s detention and a compensation claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday.&nbsp;

The Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, became jammed across the canal in high winds on March 23, and remained grounded for six days, blocking traffic in both directions and disrupting global trade.&nbsp;

The vessel has since been held in a lake between two stretches of the canal as the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) pursues a $916.5 million claim against Japanese owner Shoei Kisen.&nbsp;

An appeals chamber at Ismailia Economic Court held hearings on Saturday over the ship's detention, which the SCA is seeking to uphold following an appeal by the owner, as well as the SCA's financial claim.&nbsp;

Lawyers representing Shoei Kisen argued that the SCA had been at fault for allowing the ship to enter the waterway amid bad weather, Ahmed Abu Ali, a member of the legal team, said, adding that the authority failed to prove any fault by the ship.&nbsp;

Recordings from the ship that were presented to the court showed disagreements between SCA pilots and its control centre over whether it should enter the canal, Abu Ali said.&nbsp;

Lawyers for Shoei Kisen said the ship should have been accompanied by at least two tug boats suitable for the ship's size "but this didn't happen", he added.&nbsp;

The SCA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but it has publicly denied being at fault.&nbsp;

Lawyers for Shoei Kisen also argued that the Ever Given's detention was legally flawed and that the work to release the ship was not "a salvage (operation) in the proper legal sense", meaning the SCA could not seek compensation for such an operation, Abu Ali said.&nbsp;

"This was one of the duties of the authority according to the traffic contract," he said.&nbsp;

Shoei Kisen is claiming $100,000 in initial compensation for losses related to its detention, he said.&nbsp;

The court was expected to issue a decision on the case on Sunday, lawyers and witnesses said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel’s detention and a compensation claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday.

The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel’s detention and a compensation claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday. The Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, became jammed across the canal in high winds on March 23, and remained grounded for six days, blocking traffic in both directions and disrupting global trade. The vessel has since been held in a lake between two stretches of the canal as the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) pursues a $916.5 million claim against Japanese owner Shoei Kisen. An appeals chamber at Ismailia Economic Court held hearings on Saturday over the ship's detention, which the SCA is seeking to uphold following an appeal by the owner, as well as the SCA's financial claim. Lawyers representing Shoei Kisen argued that the SCA had been at fault for allowing the ship to enter the waterway amid bad weather, Ahmed Abu Ali, a member of the legal team, said, adding that the authority failed to prove any fault by the ship. Recordings from the ship that were presented to the court showed disagreements between SCA pilots and its control centre over whether it should enter the canal, Abu Ali said. Lawyers for Shoei Kisen said the ship should have been accompanied by at least two tug boats suitable for the ship's size "but this didn't happen", he added. The SCA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but it has publicly denied being at fault. Lawyers for Shoei Kisen also argued that the Ever Given's detention was legally flawed and that the work to release the ship was not "a salvage (operation) in the proper legal sense", meaning the SCA could not seek compensation for such an operation, Abu Ali said. "This was one of the duties of the authority according to the traffic contract," he said. Shoei Kisen is claiming $100,000 in initial compensation for losses related to its detention, he said. The court was expected to issue a decision on the case on Sunday, lawyers and witnesses said. (With inputs from agencies)

Ship owner says Suez Canal was at fault over Ever Given grounding: Lawyer 

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) plans to expand and deepen the southern stretch of the waterway where a container ship became jammed and blocked traffic for six days in March, Chairman Osama Rabie said in a televised address on Tuesday. 
 
Rabie presented the plan at an event attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who indicated that the project should be completed in 24 months at most. 
 
The SCA plans to widen the 30-kilometer stretch of the waterway between the city of Suez and the Great Bitter Lake area by 40 metres (130 feet) eastwards, Rabie said. It also plans to deepen that section to 72 feet from 66 feet. 
 
A second canal lane that opened in 2015 north of the Great Bitter Lake to allow two-directional traffic will be extended by 10km to reach a total length of 82km, allowing more ships to pass, Rabie said. 
 
Sisi said that while further expansion to the canal had been under consideration, the grounding of the 440 metre Ever Given container ship on March 23 highlighted the urgency of the plans. 
 
The vessel, still loaded with thousands of containers, is being held in the Great Bitter Lake amid a dispute over an SCA compensation claim against the Ever Given`s Japanese owner Shoei Kisen.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) plans to expand and deepen the southern stretch of the waterway where a container ship became jammed and blocked traffic for six days in March, Chairman Osama Rabie said in a televised address on Tuesday.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) plans to expand and deepen the southern stretch of the waterway where a container ship became jammed and blocked traffic for six days in March, Chairman Osama Rabie said in a televised address on Tuesday. Rabie presented the plan at an event attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who indicated that the project should be completed in 24 months at most. The SCA plans to widen the 30-kilometer stretch of the waterway between the city of Suez and the Great Bitter Lake area by 40 metres (130 feet) eastwards, Rabie said. It also plans to deepen that section to 72 feet from 66 feet. A second canal lane that opened in 2015 north of the Great Bitter Lake to allow two-directional traffic will be extended by 10km to reach a total length of 82km, allowing more ships to pass, Rabie said. Sisi said that while further expansion to the canal had been under consideration, the grounding of the 440 metre Ever Given container ship on March 23 highlighted the urgency of the plans. The vessel, still loaded with thousands of containers, is being held in the Great Bitter Lake amid a dispute over an SCA compensation claim against the Ever Given`s Japanese owner Shoei Kisen.

Suez Canal chief says southern stretch to be expanded

April 25 in history: Construction of Suez Canal officially begins, and more

2 weeks after getting freed, the giant container ship Ever Given is 'stuck' again. This time in a legal row. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Ever given 'stuck' in a legal row

The mega-ship which blocked Egypt's Suez Canal and crippled world trade for nearly a week has been "seized" on court orders until the vessel's owners pay $900 million, canal authorities said Tuesday.

The 200,000-tonne MV Ever Given got diagonally stuck in the narrow but crucial global trade artery in a sandstorm on March 23, triggering a mammoth six-day-long effort by Egyptian personnel and international salvage specialists to dislodge it.

Maritime data company Lloyd's List said the blockage by the vessel, longer than four football fields, held up an estimated $9.6 billion worth of cargo between Asia and Europe each day it was stuck.

Egypt also lost between $12 and $15 million in revenues for each day the waterway was closed, according to the canal authority.

The MV "Ever Given was seized due to its failure to pay $900 million" compensation, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie was quoted as saying by Al-Ahram, a state-run newspaper.

Rabie did not explicitly cite the Japanese owners Shoei Kisen Kaisha, but a different source at the SCA told AFP Tuesday that negotiations over damages between that company, insurance firms and the canal authority were ongoing.

The Japanese-owned, Taiwanese-operated and Panama-flagged ship was moved to unobstructive anchorage in the canal's Great Bitter Lake after it was freed on March 29, and tailbacks totalling 420 vessels at the northern and southern entrances to the canal were cleared in early April.

The compensation figure was calculated based on "the losses incurred by the grounded vessel as well as the flotation and maintenance costs" Rabie said, citing a ruling handed down by the Ismailia Economic Court in Egypt.

The grounding of the ship and the intensive salvage efforts are also reported to have resulted in significant damage to the canal.

Complex litigation

In its court filing, the SCA referred to Articles 59 and 60 of Egypt's maritime trade law which stipulates that the ship would remain seized until the amount is paid in full, Al-Ahram reported.

But analysts have warned that apportioning legal responsibility for losses incurred by the numerous parties is likely to play out in protracted and complex international litigation.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ruled out any widening of the southern stretch of the canal where the boat became diagonally stuck.

Sisi oversaw an expansion of a northern section, which included widening an existing stretch and introducing a 35-kilometre (21-mile) parallel waterway, to much fanfare in 2014-15.

But that was achieved at a cost of over $8 billion, without significantly increasing revenues from the canal.

The Suez Canal earned Egypt just over $5.7 billion in the 2019/20 fiscal year, according to official figures -- little changed from the $5.3 billion earned back in 2014.

Egyptian authorities have presented the dislodging of the ship as a vindication of the country's engineering and salvage capabilities, but observers point also to the crucial role played by international salvage experts.

The mega-ship which blocked Egypt's Suez Canal and crippled world trade for nearly a week has been "seized" on court orders until the vessel's owners pay $900 million, canal authorities said Tuesday.

The mega-ship which blocked Egypt's Suez Canal and crippled world trade for nearly a week has been "seized" on court orders until the vessel's owners pay $900 million, canal authorities said Tuesday. The 200,000-tonne MV Ever Given got diagonally stuck in the narrow but crucial global trade artery in a sandstorm on March 23, triggering a mammoth six-day-long effort by Egyptian personnel and international salvage specialists to dislodge it. Maritime data company Lloyd's List said the blockage by the vessel, longer than four football fields, held up an estimated $9.6 billion worth of cargo between Asia and Europe each day it was stuck. Egypt also lost between $12 and $15 million in revenues for each day the waterway was closed, according to the canal authority. The MV "Ever Given was seized due to its failure to pay $900 million" compensation, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie was quoted as saying by Al-Ahram, a state-run newspaper. Rabie did not explicitly cite the Japanese owners Shoei Kisen Kaisha, but a different source at the SCA told AFP Tuesday that negotiations over damages between that company, insurance firms and the canal authority were ongoing. The Japanese-owned, Taiwanese-operated and Panama-flagged ship was moved to unobstructive anchorage in the canal's Great Bitter Lake after it was freed on March 29, and tailbacks totalling 420 vessels at the northern and southern entrances to the canal were cleared in early April. The compensation figure was calculated based on "the losses incurred by the grounded vessel as well as the flotation and maintenance costs" Rabie said, citing a ruling handed down by the Ismailia Economic Court in Egypt. The grounding of the ship and the intensive salvage efforts are also reported to have resulted in significant damage to the canal. Complex litigation In its court filing, the SCA referred to Articles 59 and 60 of Egypt's maritime trade law which stipulates that the ship would remain seized until the amount is paid in full, Al-Ahram reported. But analysts have warned that apportioning legal responsibility for losses incurred by the numerous parties is likely to play out in protracted and complex international litigation. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ruled out any widening of the southern stretch of the canal where the boat became diagonally stuck. Sisi oversaw an expansion of a northern section, which included widening an existing stretch and introducing a 35-kilometre (21-mile) parallel waterway, to much fanfare in 2014-15. But that was achieved at a cost of over $8 billion, without significantly increasing revenues from the canal. The Suez Canal earned Egypt just over $5.7 billion in the 2019/20 fiscal year, according to official figures -- little changed from the $5.3 billion earned back in 2014. Egyptian authorities have presented the dislodging of the ship as a vindication of the country's engineering and salvage capabilities, but observers point also to the crucial role played by international salvage experts.

Egypt 'seizes' Suez megaship, demands nearly $1 billion compensation

Egypt also lost between $12 and $15 million in revenues for each day the waterway was closed, according to the canal authority.

Egypt 'Seizes' Suez megaship, demands nearly $1 billion compensation

A backlog of container ships carrying consumer goods has grown in some key strategic ports after a near week-long blockage in the Suez Canal, adding to ongoing disruptions to global trade.

World Business Watch: Global supply lines struggle to clear container backlog after Suez Canal chaos

All ships stranded by the grounding of the giant container ship Ever Given in the Suez Canal in March had passed through the canal by Saturday, ending the backlog that built up during the blockage, the canal authority said.

The last 61 ships, out of 422 ships that were queuing when the vessel was dislodged on Monday, passed through the vital trade artery on Saturday, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/egypts-suez-canal-authority-shipping-traffic-jam-over-375196">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/egypts-suez-canal-authority-shipping-traffic-jam-over-375196/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

International supply chains were thrown into disarray when the 400-metre-long (430-yard) Ever Given ran aground in the canal on March 23, with specialist rescue teams taking almost a week to free her after extensive dredging and repeated tugging operations.

In total, 85 ships had been due to pass through the canal on Saturday including 24 ships that arrived after Ever Given was dislodged, the SCA said.

An SCA investigation began on Wednesday into what caused the vessel to run aground in the canal and block the waterway for six days, the canal authority’s chairman, Osama Rabie, told the MBC Masr private TV late on Friday.

“The investigation is going well and will take two more days, then we will announce the results,” he added.

All ships stranded by the grounding of the giant container ship Ever Given in the Suez Canal in March had passed through the canal by Saturday, ending the backlog that built up during the blockage, the canal authority said.

All ships stranded by the grounding of the giant container ship Ever Given in the Suez Canal in March had passed through the canal by Saturday, ending the backlog that built up during the blockage, the canal authority said. The last 61 ships, out of 422 ships that were queuing when the vessel was dislodged on Monday, passed through the vital trade artery on Saturday, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said. Watch | International supply chains were thrown into disarray when the 400-metre-long (430-yard) Ever Given ran aground in the canal on March 23, with specialist rescue teams taking almost a week to free her after extensive dredging and repeated tugging operations. In total, 85 ships had been due to pass through the canal on Saturday including 24 ships that arrived after Ever Given was dislodged, the SCA said. An SCA investigation began on Wednesday into what caused the vessel to run aground in the canal and block the waterway for six days, the canal authority’s chairman, Osama Rabie, told the MBC Masr private TV late on Friday. “The investigation is going well and will take two more days, then we will announce the results,” he added.

Suez Canal shipping backlog ends, days after giant vessel freed

Global trade is breathing a sigh of relief with Suez Canal traffic finally coming to an end as the last of the stranded ships pass through the canal.

Suez Canal: US warship passes through Suez canal

WION's Palki Sharma on Gravitas Plus | As the world came together to make fun of a ship, global trade had a migraine. How big was the Suez Canal crisis? What lesson did it teach us?

Gravitas Plus: A Billion Dollar Traffic Jam

The Suez Canal traffic jam finally coming to an end. The blockage east at the vital waterway a US Warship were seen passing through the canal.

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority: Shipping traffic jam over

Days after the Ever Given vessel successfully refloated, the Suez Canal Authority is close to clearing the backlog in one of the busiest trade routes in the world.

Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie reported that 61 ships are still waiting but will pass on Saturday.

Earlier, nearly 422 ships had got stuck after Evergreen’s Ever Given ship had got stuck in the Suez Canal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/suez-canal-blockage-lead-investigator-in-probe-boards-ship-374880">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/suez-canal-blockage-lead-investigator-in-probe-boards-ship-374880/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On Friday, nearly 80 ships had passed through the canal, from both directions, which involved a US aircraft carrier, a liquefied natural gas tanker, and an oil tanker.

The SCA had hoped to clear the backlog of the traffic jam in the canal by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Egypt said it may seek compensation worth $1 billion. The amount is an estimate of the losses linked to transit fees, damages incurred during dredging and salvage efforts, Rabie claimed.

This is the right of the country. It should get its due,''&nbsp;Rabie said.

Days after the Ever Given vessel successfully refloated, the Suez Canal Authority is close to clearing the backlog in one of the busiest trade routes in the world.

Days after the Ever Given vessel successfully refloated, the Suez Canal Authority is close to clearing the backlog in one of the busiest trade routes in the world. Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie reported that 61 ships are still waiting but will pass on Saturday. Earlier, nearly 422 ships had got stuck after Evergreen’s Ever Given ship had got stuck in the Suez Canal. Watch | On Friday, nearly 80 ships had passed through the canal, from both directions, which involved a US aircraft carrier, a liquefied natural gas tanker, and an oil tanker. The SCA had hoped to clear the backlog of the traffic jam in the canal by the end of the week. Meanwhile, Egypt said it may seek compensation worth $1 billion. The amount is an estimate of the losses linked to transit fees, damages incurred during dredging and salvage efforts, Rabie claimed. This is the right of the country. It should get its due,'' Rabie said.

Suez Canal's backlog almost clear: Authorities

The lead investigator in the Suez Canal blockage probe has boarded the Ever Given. The investigator has said that the investigation would include examining the seaworthiness of the ship.

Suez canal blockage: Lead investigator in probe boards ship

A formal investigation into container ship Ever Given has begun six days after it got stuck in the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal Authority Chairman has suggested that weather conditions including high winds and possible human error could have played a major role in the grounding of the ship.

Investigation underway into MV Ever Given's blockage of Suez Canal

Egypt on Wednesday said that it may seek compensation worth $1 billion after a&nbsp;giant container ship ran aground, choking off international trade through the&nbsp;Suez&nbsp;Canal for almost a week.

According to&nbsp;Suez Canal Authority chief executive Osama Rabie, the amount is an estimate of the losses linked to transit fees, damages incurred during dredging and salvage efforts.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-shares-nighttime-satellite-images-of-traffic-jam-at-suez-canal-374752" hreflang="en">NASA shares nighttime satellite images of traffic jam at Suez Canal</a>

“This is the right of the country. It should get its due,''&nbsp;Rabie said.

The six-day blockage threw global supply chains into disarray after the 400-metre-long (430-yard) ship became jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.

The&nbsp;Suez&nbsp;Canal Authority (SCA) said on Wednesday that shipping had returned to normal levels, with a total of 81 ships transiting the canal.

Egypt's Leth Agencies said on Wednesday that a total of 163 ships had transited the&nbsp;Suez&nbsp;Canal since its reopening and that 292 ships were currently waiting.

Five LNG vessels transited on Tuesday, commodities analysts Kpler said in a note, adding that it appeared congestion at the canal was "now quickly tapering off".

The SCA has scheduled accelerated shipping convoys and has said it hopes the backlog of ships can be cleared by the end of the week.

The blocking of the canal is expected to give rise to flurry of insurance claims, with Lloyd's of London expecting a "large loss", possibly amounting to $100 million or more, according to its chairman.

The Japanese owner of the Ever Given said it had not received any claims or lawsuits over the blockage.

Egypt on Wednesday said that it may seek compensation worth $1 billion after a giant container ship ran aground, choking off international trade through the Suez Canal for almost a week.

Egypt on Wednesday said that it may seek compensation worth $1 billion after a giant container ship ran aground, choking off international trade through the Suez Canal for almost a week. According to Suez Canal Authority chief executive Osama Rabie, the amount is an estimate of the losses linked to transit fees, damages incurred during dredging and salvage efforts. Also read| NASA shares nighttime satellite images of traffic jam at Suez Canal “This is the right of the country. It should get its due,'' Rabie said. The six-day blockage threw global supply chains into disarray after the 400-metre-long (430-yard) ship became jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said on Wednesday that shipping had returned to normal levels, with a total of 81 ships transiting the canal. Egypt's Leth Agencies said on Wednesday that a total of 163 ships had transited the Suez Canal since its reopening and that 292 ships were currently waiting. Five LNG vessels transited on Tuesday, commodities analysts Kpler said in a note, adding that it appeared congestion at the canal was "now quickly tapering off". The SCA has scheduled accelerated shipping convoys and has said it hopes the backlog of ships can be cleared by the end of the week. The blocking of the canal is expected to give rise to flurry of insurance claims, with Lloyd's of London expecting a "large loss", possibly amounting to $100 million or more, according to its chairman. The Japanese owner of the Ever Given said it had not received any claims or lawsuits over the blockage.

Suez Canal crisis: Egypt may seek $1 billion compensation

Suez Canal was blocked for days as a giant vessel, Ever Given, blocked one of the busiest sea routes of the world.

Now, that the vessel has refloated, the US space agency NASA has shared nighttime images of the traffic jam.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-suez-canal-reopens-cargo-ship-elise-blocks-river-arun-in-sussex-374670">After Suez Canal reopens, cargo ship Elise blocks River Arun in Sussex</a>

The images were captured by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8&nbsp;and showed several ships waiting in the Gulf of Suez, the northwestern arm of the Red Sea.

These images were shared by NASA Earth's Twitter account. "Hundreds of ships were left idling around the Suez Canal as engineers worked to dislodge a grounded vessel blocking the key shipping route in Egypt," the tweet read.

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Hundreds of ships were left idling around the Suez Canal as engineers worked to dislodge a grounded vessel blocking the key shipping route in Egypt. The Landsat 8 satellite captured this image of the queue of ships on March 27, 2021. <a href="https://t.co/vOYCt8g7qS">https://t.co/vOYCt8g7qS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/suezcanal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#suezcanal</a> <a href="https://t.co/THVN30kf0f">pic.twitter.com/THVN30kf0f</a>
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAEarth/status/1376652996696801284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"The line of ships waiting to get through the #SuezCanal was also visible to a sensor on the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite. The sensor can detect even faint nighttime light signals," another tweet showed the difference in traffic over a period of days.

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The line of ships waiting to get through the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuezCanal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuezCanal</a> was also visible to a sensor on the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite. The sensor can detect even faint nighttime light signals. <a href="https://t.co/uTKWcofDk1">https://t.co/uTKWcofDk1</a> <a href="https://t.co/u441B8zZPh">pic.twitter.com/u441B8zZPh</a>
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAEarth/status/1376957274682486785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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These images have been captured through the&nbsp;Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite.

Experts believe that while the traffic began moving on March 29, it will still take some more time for the traffic to completely simmer down to normal. Earlier, on March 28, 367 ships were waiting, as per&nbsp;the canal service company Leth Agencies. It also added that&nbsp;154 were waiting to the north near Port Said; 42 were in Great Bitter Lake; and 171 were south of stranded ship in the Red Sea

Suez Canal was blocked for days as a giant vessel, Ever Given, blocked one of the busiest sea routes of the world. Now, that the vessel has refloated, the US space agency NASA has shared nighttime images of the traffic jam.

Suez Canal was blocked for days as a giant vessel, Ever Given, blocked one of the busiest sea routes of the world. Now, that the vessel has refloated, the US space agency NASA has shared nighttime images of the traffic jam. Also read | After Suez Canal reopens, cargo ship Elise blocks River Arun in Sussex The images were captured by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 and showed several ships waiting in the Gulf of Suez, the northwestern arm of the Red Sea. These images were shared by NASA Earth's Twitter account. "Hundreds of ships were left idling around the Suez Canal as engineers worked to dislodge a grounded vessel blocking the key shipping route in Egypt," the tweet read. Hundreds of ships were left idling around the Suez Canal as engineers worked to dislodge a grounded vessel blocking the key shipping route in Egypt. The Landsat 8 satellite captured this image of the queue of ships on March 27, 2021. https://t.co/vOYCt8g7qS #suezcanal pic.twitter.com/THVN30kf0f — NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) March 29, 2021 × "The line of ships waiting to get through the #SuezCanal was also visible to a sensor on the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite. The sensor can detect even faint nighttime light signals," another tweet showed the difference in traffic over a period of days. The line of ships waiting to get through the #SuezCanal was also visible to a sensor on the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite. The sensor can detect even faint nighttime light signals. https://t.co/uTKWcofDk1 pic.twitter.com/u441B8zZPh — NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) March 30, 2021 × These images have been captured through the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite. Experts believe that while the traffic began moving on March 29, it will still take some more time for the traffic to completely simmer down to normal. Earlier, on March 28, 367 ships were waiting, as per the canal service company Leth Agencies. It also added that 154 were waiting to the north near Port Said; 42 were in Great Bitter Lake; and 171 were south of stranded ship in the Red Sea

NASA shares nighttime satellite images of traffic jam at Suez Canal

An 80-metre long vessel, called Elise, which wedged itself across a river in West Sussex earlier today has sparked comparisons with the week-long saga that saw a stuck container ship cause havoc after it blocked the Suez Canal.

Elise was moored in the Littlehampton harbour with a 600-tonne cargo of roadstone but drifted into the middle of the River Arun when one of its mooring lines reportedly parted.

Meanwhile, social media users were quick to point out the similarities between the situations in humble West Sussex and the Suez.&nbsp;

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River users being turned around - Arun River tottaly blocked by MV Elise <a href="https://t.co/diMfSQZr7P">pic.twitter.com/diMfSQZr7P</a>
— eddie mitchell (@brightonsnapper) <a href="https://twitter.com/brightonsnapper/status/1376859306352648195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Suez Canal? Hold my beer. Arun River currently blocked. Credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/brightonsnapper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brightonsnapper</a> <a href="https://t.co/2Px7eNDteI">pic.twitter.com/2Px7eNDteI</a>
— Tony Shepherd (@tonysheps) <a href="https://twitter.com/tonysheps/status/1376862387458957312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<img alt="Elise" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bd4af729-1b57-4ae1-b547-265d7d285118" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/twitter.jpg" /> 
 
However, unlike the vast container Ever Given, one of the largest in the world, Elise was moved on just after hours.

(With inputs from agencies)

An 80-metre long vessel, called Elise, which wedged itself across a river in West Sussex earlier today has sparked comparisons with the week-long saga that saw a stuck container ship cause havoc after it blocked the Suez Canal.

An 80-metre long vessel, called Elise, which wedged itself across a river in West Sussex earlier today has sparked comparisons with the week-long saga that saw a stuck container ship cause havoc after it blocked the Suez Canal. Elise was moored in the Littlehampton harbour with a 600-tonne cargo of roadstone but drifted into the middle of the River Arun when one of its mooring lines reportedly parted. Meanwhile, social media users were quick to point out the similarities between the situations in humble West Sussex and the Suez. River users being turned around - Arun River tottaly blocked by MV Elise pic.twitter.com/diMfSQZr7P — eddie mitchell (@brightonsnapper) March 30, 2021 × Suez Canal? Hold my beer. Arun River currently blocked. Credit: @brightonsnapper pic.twitter.com/2Px7eNDteI — Tony Shepherd (@tonysheps) March 30, 2021 × However, unlike the vast container Ever Given, one of the largest in the world, Elise was moved on just after hours. (With inputs from agencies)

After Suez Canal reopens, cargo ship Elise blocks River Arun in Sussex

The traffic jam at the Suez Canal will soon begin easing, but behemoth container ships such as the one that blocked that crucial passageway for almost a week and caused headaches for shippers around the world aren’t going anywhere.

Global supply chains were already under pressure when the Ever Given, a ship longer than the height of the Empire State Building and capable of carrying furnishings for 20,000 apartments, wedged itself between the banks of the Suez Canal last week. It was freed Monday, but it left behind “disruptions and backlogs in global shipping that could take weeks, possibly months, to unravel,” according to A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world’s largest shipping company.

The crisis was short, but it was also years in the making.

For decades, shipping lines have been making bigger and bigger vessels, driven by an expanding global appetite for electronics, clothes, toys and other goods. The growth in ship size, which sped up in recent years, often made economic sense: Bigger vessels are generally cheaper to build and operate on a per-container basis. But the largest ships can come with their own set of problems, not only for the canals and ports that have to handle them, but for the companies that build them.

“They did what they thought was most efficient for themselves — make the ships big — and they didn’t pay much attention at all to the rest of the world,” said Marc Levinson, an economist and author of “Outside the Box,” a history of globalization. “But it turns out that these really big ships are not as efficient as the shipping lines had imagined.”

Despite the risks they pose, however, massive vessels still dominate global shipping. According to Alphaliner, a shipping-data firm, the global fleet of container ships includes 133 of the largest ship type — those that can carry 18,000 to 24,000 containers. Another 53 ships are on order.

The world’s first commercially successful container trip took place in 1956 aboard a converted steamship, which transported a few dozen containers from New Jersey to Texas. The industry has grown steadily in the decades since, but as global trade accelerated in the 1980s, so did the growth of the shipping industry — and ship size.

In that decade, the average capacity of a container ship grew by 28%, according to the International Transport Forum, a unit of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Container-ship capacity grew again by 36% in the 1990s. Then, in 2006, Maersk introduced a massive new vessel, the Emma Maersk, which could hold about 15,000 containers, almost 70% more than any other vessel.

“Instead of this pattern of small increases in capacity over time, all of a sudden we had a quantum leap and that really set off an arms race,” Levinson said.

Today, the largest ships can hold as many as 24,000 containers — a standard 20-foot box can hold a pair of midsize SUVs or enough produce to fill one to two aisles in a grocery store.

The growth of the shipping industry and ship size has played a central role in creating the modern economy, helping to make China a manufacturing powerhouse and facilitating the rise of everything from e-commerce to retailers such as Ikea and Amazon. To the container lines, building bigger made sense: Larger ships allowed them to squeeze out savings on construction, fuel and staffing.

“Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV) are extremely efficient when it is about transporting large quantities of goods around the globe,” Tim Seifert, a spokesman for Hapag-Lloyd, a large shipping company, said in a statement. “We also doubt that it would make shipping safer or more environmentally friendly if there would be more- or less-efficient vessels on the oceans or in the canals.”

A.P. Moller-Maersk said it was premature to blame Ever Given’s size for what happened in the Suez. Ultralarge ships “have existed for many years and have sailed through the Suez Canal without issues,” company chief technical officer Palle Brodsgaard Laursen said in a statement Tuesday.

But the growth in ship size has come at a cost. It has effectively pitted port against port, canal against canal. To make way for bigger ships, for example, the Panama Canal expanded in 2016 at a cost of more than $5 billion.

That set off a race among ports along the East Coast of the United States to attract the larger ships coming through the canal. Several ports, including those in Baltimore, Miami and Norfolk, Virginia, began dredging projects to deepen their harbors. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spearheaded a $1.7 billion project to raise the Bayonne Bridge to accommodate mammoth ships laden with cargo from Asia and elsewhere.

The race to accommodate ever-larger ships also pushed ports and terminal operators to buy new equipment. This month, for example, the Port of Oakland, California, erected three 1,600-ton cranes that would, in the words of one port executive, allow it to “receive the biggest ships.”

But while ports incurred costs for accommodating larger ships, they didn’t reap all of the benefits, according to Jan Tiedemann, a senior analyst at Alphaliner.

“The savings are almost exclusively on the side of the carrier, so there was an argument that the carriers have been in the driving seat and have just pushed through with this big tonnage, while terminal operators, ports and, in some cases, the taxpayer, has footed the bill,” he said.

The shift to bigger ships also coincided with and contributed to industry consolidation that has both limited competition among shipping giants and made the world more vulnerable to supply disruptions. Buying and maintaining large vessels is expensive, and shippers who couldn’t afford those costs had to find ways to become bigger themselves. Some firms merged, and others joined alliances that allowed them to pool their ships to offer more-frequent service.

Those trends aren’t necessarily all bad. The alliances allow shippers to offer expanded service and help keep costs low for customers. And the fact that bigger ships cut fuel costs has helped the industry make the case that it is doing its part to reduce planet-warming emissions.

But the argument for even bigger ships may finally be fading, even for container lines themselves — a concept known in economics as the law of diminishing returns.

For one, the benefits of building bigger tend to shrink with each successive round of growth, according to Olaf Merk, lead author of a 2015 International Transport Forum report on very big ships. According to the report, the savings from moving to ships that can carry 19,000 containers were four to six times smaller than those realized by the previous expansion of ship size. And most of the savings came from more efficient ship engines than the size of the ship.

“There’s still economies of scale, but less and less as the ships become bigger,” Merk said.

The bigger vessels can also call on fewer ports and navigate through fewer tight waterways. They are also harder to fill, cost more to insure and pose a greater threat to supply chains when things go wrong, such as Ever Given’s beaching in the Suez Canal. Giant ships are also designed for a world in which trade is growing rapidly, which is far from guaranteed these days given high geopolitical and economic tensions between the United States and China, between Britain and the European Union and between other large trading partners.

The traffic jam at the Suez Canal will soon begin easing, but behemoth container ships such as the one that blocked that crucial passageway for almost a week and caused headaches for shippers around the world aren’t going anywhere.

The traffic jam at the Suez Canal will soon begin easing, but behemoth container ships such as the one that blocked that crucial passageway for almost a week and caused headaches for shippers around the world aren’t going anywhere. Global supply chains were already under pressure when the Ever Given, a ship longer than the height of the Empire State Building and capable of carrying furnishings for 20,000 apartments, wedged itself between the banks of the Suez Canal last week. It was freed Monday, but it left behind “disruptions and backlogs in global shipping that could take weeks, possibly months, to unravel,” according to A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world’s largest shipping company. The crisis was short, but it was also years in the making. For decades, shipping lines have been making bigger and bigger vessels, driven by an expanding global appetite for electronics, clothes, toys and other goods. The growth in ship size, which sped up in recent years, often made economic sense: Bigger vessels are generally cheaper to build and operate on a per-container basis. But the largest ships can come with their own set of problems, not only for the canals and ports that have to handle them, but for the companies that build them. “They did what they thought was most efficient for themselves — make the ships big — and they didn’t pay much attention at all to the rest of the world,” said Marc Levinson, an economist and author of “Outside the Box,” a history of globalization. “But it turns out that these really big ships are not as efficient as the shipping lines had imagined.” Despite the risks they pose, however, massive vessels still dominate global shipping. According to Alphaliner, a shipping-data firm, the global fleet of container ships includes 133 of the largest ship type — those that can carry 18,000 to 24,000 containers. Another 53 ships are on order. The world’s first commercially successful container trip took place in 1956 aboard a converted steamship, which transported a few dozen containers from New Jersey to Texas. The industry has grown steadily in the decades since, but as global trade accelerated in the 1980s, so did the growth of the shipping industry — and ship size. In that decade, the average capacity of a container ship grew by 28%, according to the International Transport Forum, a unit of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Container-ship capacity grew again by 36% in the 1990s. Then, in 2006, Maersk introduced a massive new vessel, the Emma Maersk, which could hold about 15,000 containers, almost 70% more than any other vessel. “Instead of this pattern of small increases in capacity over time, all of a sudden we had a quantum leap and that really set off an arms race,” Levinson said. Today, the largest ships can hold as many as 24,000 containers — a standard 20-foot box can hold a pair of midsize SUVs or enough produce to fill one to two aisles in a grocery store. The growth of the shipping industry and ship size has played a central role in creating the modern economy, helping to make China a manufacturing powerhouse and facilitating the rise of everything from e-commerce to retailers such as Ikea and Amazon. To the container lines, building bigger made sense: Larger ships allowed them to squeeze out savings on construction, fuel and staffing. “Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV) are extremely efficient when it is about transporting large quantities of goods around the globe,” Tim Seifert, a spokesman for Hapag-Lloyd, a large shipping company, said in a statement. “We also doubt that it would make shipping safer or more environmentally friendly if there would be more- or less-efficient vessels on the oceans or in the canals.” A.P. Moller-Maersk said it was premature to blame Ever Given’s size for what happened in the Suez. Ultralarge ships “have existed for many years and have sailed through the Suez Canal without issues,” company chief technical officer Palle Brodsgaard Laursen said in a statement Tuesday. But the growth in ship size has come at a cost. It has effectively pitted port against port, canal against canal. To make way for bigger ships, for example, the Panama Canal expanded in 2016 at a cost of more than $5 billion. That set off a race among ports along the East Coast of the United States to attract the larger ships coming through the canal. Several ports, including those in Baltimore, Miami and Norfolk, Virginia, began dredging projects to deepen their harbors. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spearheaded a $1.7 billion project to raise the Bayonne Bridge to accommodate mammoth ships laden with cargo from Asia and elsewhere. The race to accommodate ever-larger ships also pushed ports and terminal operators to buy new equipment. This month, for example, the Port of Oakland, California, erected three 1,600-ton cranes that would, in the words of one port executive, allow it to “receive the biggest ships.” But while ports incurred costs for accommodating larger ships, they didn’t reap all of the benefits, according to Jan Tiedemann, a senior analyst at Alphaliner. “The savings are almost exclusively on the side of the carrier, so there was an argument that the carriers have been in the driving seat and have just pushed through with this big tonnage, while terminal operators, ports and, in some cases, the taxpayer, has footed the bill,” he said. The shift to bigger ships also coincided with and contributed to industry consolidation that has both limited competition among shipping giants and made the world more vulnerable to supply disruptions. Buying and maintaining large vessels is expensive, and shippers who couldn’t afford those costs had to find ways to become bigger themselves. Some firms merged, and others joined alliances that allowed them to pool their ships to offer more-frequent service. Those trends aren’t necessarily all bad. The alliances allow shippers to offer expanded service and help keep costs low for customers. And the fact that bigger ships cut fuel costs has helped the industry make the case that it is doing its part to reduce planet-warming emissions. But the argument for even bigger ships may finally be fading, even for container lines themselves — a concept known in economics as the law of diminishing returns. For one, the benefits of building bigger tend to shrink with each successive round of growth, according to Olaf Merk, lead author of a 2015 International Transport Forum report on very big ships. According to the report, the savings from moving to ships that can carry 19,000 containers were four to six times smaller than those realized by the previous expansion of ship size. And most of the savings came from more efficient ship engines than the size of the ship. “There’s still economies of scale, but less and less as the ships become bigger,” Merk said. The bigger vessels can also call on fewer ports and navigate through fewer tight waterways. They are also harder to fill, cost more to insure and pose a greater threat to supply chains when things go wrong, such as Ever Given’s beaching in the Suez Canal. Giant ships are also designed for a world in which trade is growing rapidly, which is far from guaranteed these days given high geopolitical and economic tensions between the United States and China, between Britain and the European Union and between other large trading partners.

Why the world’s container ships grew so big

After&nbsp;seven&nbsp;days of dredging and tugging,&nbsp;it's green light at the Suez Canal.&nbsp;The massive container ship&nbsp;'Ever Given'&nbsp;is floating again.&nbsp;It's good news for Egypt and for the global economy,&nbsp;but it has also been a learning curve.&nbsp;

One ship was able to freeze global trade.&nbsp;One blocked canal spurred a run on the oil market.&nbsp;

The rear of the ship was re-floated but the front remained firmly stuck.&nbsp;Multiple tug boats were working overtime&nbsp;but it was Sunday's high tide that proved to be a game changer.&nbsp;Officials said the next 24 to 48 hours would be crucial&nbsp;and they were right.&nbsp;Thanks to some&nbsp;favourable&nbsp;tide and some more tugging, the vessel was back in deep waters.&nbsp;

It has been taken to a location outside the canal for inspection&nbsp;and&nbsp;more importantly, trade has resumed&nbsp;as hard as it was to dislodge the ship.&nbsp;The mission is only half done.&nbsp;The tailback at the Suez Canal is massive.&nbsp;Every second lost is worth its weight in thousands of dollars.&nbsp;425 ships were stuck at both ends of the canal.&nbsp;Egypt is planning to keep the Suez open 24x7 to clear the backlog.&nbsp;

Even then it could be days before traffic eases&nbsp;but here's another problem.&nbsp;These vessels were not sailing to the Suez Canal.&nbsp;They were sailing through it,&nbsp;so when they reach&nbsp;port&nbsp;another hold-up could be on the cards.&nbsp;

For&nbsp;seven&nbsp;days,&nbsp;the&nbsp;'Ever Given'&nbsp;held up cargo, both commercial and humanitarian.&nbsp;The estimated cost of this hold-up?&nbsp;9.6 billion dollars every day&nbsp;and for Egypt,&nbsp;this was a national crisis.&nbsp;

The country normally earns between 12 and 14 million dollars from the canal&nbsp;every day.&nbsp;

Last week,&nbsp;this income disappeared.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;the canal workers were rightly over-joyed.&nbsp;They found their own unique way to celebrate&nbsp;by sounding the foghorns in their tug boats.&nbsp;The coast is clear quite literally this time.&nbsp;At the end of the day,&nbsp;modern technology and human ingenuity pulled through&nbsp;but not before a stern test.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;'Ever Given'&nbsp;is a big ship.&nbsp;It weighs 200,000&nbsp;tonnes&nbsp;and is 400-metre-long&nbsp;and as high as the empire state building.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;the obvious question is&nbsp;what was a ship this size doing in the&nbsp;Suez&nbsp;Canal?&nbsp;

This is an artificial waterway.&nbsp;The canal is more than 150-year-old.&nbsp;Recently,&nbsp;it has undergone many upgrades.&nbsp;So theoretically,&nbsp;it should have been smooth sailing for the&nbsp;'Ever Given'&nbsp;but it wasn't.&nbsp;

The ship's owners say strong winds pushed the vessel ashore&nbsp;but canal authorities suspect human error,&nbsp;there is an investigation underway.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;we should have the answers soon&nbsp;but should a gust of wind be able to topple the world economy?&nbsp;

It's not exactly the sign of a robust system.&nbsp;The Suez Canal is too big and important for its own good. Fifty ships sail through it every day.&nbsp;

In 2020,&nbsp;a total of 19,000 vessels used it,&nbsp;ferrying 1.17 billion&nbsp;tonnes&nbsp;of cargo.&nbsp;The canal services 12% of global trade.&nbsp;The bigger they are, the harder they fall.&nbsp;This time,&nbsp;it was a multi-billion dollar&nbsp;fall.&nbsp;

So,&nbsp;what are the alternatives?&nbsp;

Right now,&nbsp;there isn't any,&nbsp;the Suez Canal saves time, cost and fuel.&nbsp;It shortens the voyage from Europe to Asia by around a week.&nbsp;That's like dog years in global trade.&nbsp;The alternative is to sail around the&nbsp;African&nbsp;continent.&nbsp;Experts agree that in this day and age,&nbsp;it is simply not feasible.&nbsp;The Suez Canal has been blocked before&nbsp;in 2004.&nbsp;It was shut for&nbsp;three&nbsp;days&nbsp;for&nbsp;same reason.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

An oil tanker,&nbsp;Tropic Brilliance,&nbsp;was stuck&nbsp;but it wasn't a billion dollar traffic jam.&nbsp;Because back then, the stakes weren't this high.&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;we&nbsp;are living in the age of containers.&nbsp;Ships&nbsp;are&nbsp;bigger than our tallest monuments.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It pays to operate these mammoth vessels.&nbsp;In one trip,&nbsp;you can transport goods worth millions of dollars.&nbsp;The&nbsp;'Ever Given',&nbsp;for example,&nbsp;was carrying&nbsp;one&nbsp;billion&nbsp;dollars worth&nbsp;of goods.&nbsp;

It's a system set-up for mishaps like this one.&nbsp;The ship may have moved but this story is far from over.&nbsp;The oil traders are watching closely.&nbsp;Exporters are weighing their options&nbsp;and wait till insurance companies get the bill.&nbsp;The Suez Canal is not just any other waterway.&nbsp;It is steeped in history,&nbsp;not just economic but political as well.&nbsp;

The last time,&nbsp;there was a Suez crisis was more than half a century back.&nbsp;The world we live in was shaped by that crisis.&nbsp;This one may not be as significant&nbsp;but it raises crucial questions about the world economy.&nbsp;

After seven days of dredging and tugging, it's green light at the Suez Canal. The massive container ship 'Ever Given' is floating again. It's good news for Egypt and for the global economy, but it has also been a learning curve.

After seven days of dredging and tugging, it's green light at the Suez Canal. The massive container ship 'Ever Given' is floating again. It's good news for Egypt and for the global economy, but it has also been a learning curve. One ship was able to freeze global trade. One blocked canal spurred a run on the oil market. The rear of the ship was re-floated but the front remained firmly stuck. Multiple tug boats were working overtime but it was Sunday's high tide that proved to be a game changer. Officials said the next 24 to 48 hours would be crucial and they were right. Thanks to some favourable tide and some more tugging, the vessel was back in deep waters. It has been taken to a location outside the canal for inspection and more importantly, trade has resumed as hard as it was to dislodge the ship. The mission is only half done. The tailback at the Suez Canal is massive. Every second lost is worth its weight in thousands of dollars. 425 ships were stuck at both ends of the canal. Egypt is planning to keep the Suez open 24x7 to clear the backlog. Even then it could be days before traffic eases but here's another problem. These vessels were not sailing to the Suez Canal. They were sailing through it, so when they reach port another hold-up could be on the cards. For seven days, the 'Ever Given' held up cargo, both commercial and humanitarian. The estimated cost of this hold-up? 9.6 billion dollars every day and for Egypt, this was a national crisis. The country normally earns between 12 and 14 million dollars from the canal every day. Last week, this income disappeared. So, the canal workers were rightly over-joyed. They found their own unique way to celebrate by sounding the foghorns in their tug boats. The coast is clear quite literally this time. At the end of the day, modern technology and human ingenuity pulled through but not before a stern test. The 'Ever Given' is a big ship. It weighs 200,000 tonnes and is 400-metre-long and as high as the empire state building. So, the obvious question is what was a ship this size doing in the Suez Canal? This is an artificial waterway. The canal is more than 150-year-old. Recently, it has undergone many upgrades. So theoretically, it should have been smooth sailing for the 'Ever Given' but it wasn't. The ship's owners say strong winds pushed the vessel ashore but canal authorities suspect human error, there is an investigation underway. So, we should have the answers soon but should a gust of wind be able to topple the world economy? It's not exactly the sign of a robust system. The Suez Canal is too big and important for its own good. Fifty ships sail through it every day. In 2020, a total of 19,000 vessels used it, ferrying 1.17 billion tonnes of cargo. The canal services 12% of global trade. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. This time, it was a multi-billion dollar fall. So, what are the alternatives? Right now, there isn't any, the Suez Canal saves time, cost and fuel. It shortens the voyage from Europe to Asia by around a week. That's like dog years in global trade. The alternative is to sail around the African continent. Experts agree that in this day and age, it is simply not feasible. The Suez Canal has been blocked before in 2004. It was shut for three days for same reason. An oil tanker, Tropic Brilliance, was stuck but it wasn't a billion dollar traffic jam. Because back then, the stakes weren't this high. Today, we are living in the age of containers. Ships are bigger than our tallest monuments. It pays to operate these mammoth vessels. In one trip, you can transport goods worth millions of dollars. The 'Ever Given', for example, was carrying one billion dollars worth of goods. It's a system set-up for mishaps like this one. The ship may have moved but this story is far from over. The oil traders are watching closely. Exporters are weighing their options and wait till insurance companies get the bill. The Suez Canal is not just any other waterway. It is steeped in history, not just economic but political as well. The last time, there was a Suez crisis was more than half a century back. The world we live in was shaped by that crisis. This one may not be as significant but it raises crucial questions about the world economy.

'Ever Given' floats again but backlog at Suez Canal continues  

Shipping was on the move again late on Monday in Egypt`s Suez Canal after tugs refloated a giant container ship which had been blocking the channel for almost a week, causing a huge build-up of vessels around the waterway. 
 
With the 400-metre-long (430-yard) Ever Given dislodged, 113 ships were expected to transit the canal in both directions by early Tuesday morning, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chairman Osama Rabie told reporters. 
 
He said a backlog of 422 ships could be cleared in 3 -1/2 days. 
 
The Ever Given had become jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, in high winds early on March 23. 
 
Evergreen Line, which is leasing the Ever Given, said the ship would be inspected for seaworthiness in the Great Bitter Lake, which separates two sections of the canal. 
 
"The ship was ready for limited navigation after an initial inspection and not a single container was damaged, but a second investigation will be more precise and if it was affected it will show," Rabie said. 
 
At dawn on Monday, rescue workers from the SCA working with a team from Dutch firm Smit Salvage partially refloated the ship and straightened it in the canal. After several hours it shifted briefly back across the canal before being manoeuvred free by tugs as the tide changed, a canal source said. 
 
"The time pressure to complete this operation was evident and unprecedented," said Peter Berdowski, CEO of Smit Salvage owner Boskalis, after the Ever Given was refloated. 
 
The company said approximately 30,000 cubic metres of sand had been dredged to refloat the 224,000-tonne container ship and a total of 11 tugs and two powerful sea tugs were used to pull the ship free. 
 
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), the technical managers of the container ship, said there were no reports of pollution or cargo damage. 
 
QUEUE 
 
Vessels waiting to transit the canal include dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, Nile TV reported. 
 
Rabie said that within four days, traffic would return to normal. "We`ll work day and night to end the backlog." 
 
Vessels similar in size to the Ever Given, which is one of the world`s largest container ships, could pass through the canal safely, he added, and the SCA would not change its policy on admitting such ships. 
 
Shipping group Maersk said the knock-on disruptions to global shipping could take weeks or months to unravel. 
 
Owners and charterers of delayed ships face at least $24 million in expenses they will be unable to recoup as their insurance policies do not cover them and cargo owners could also face uninsured losses, industry sources said. 
 
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who had not publicly commented on the blockage, said Egypt had ended the crisis and assured resumption of trade through the canal. 
 
Oil prices fell 1 percent after the ship was refloated while shares of Taiwan-listed Evergreen Marine Corp rose. 
 
About 15% of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal, which is an important source of foreign currency revenue for Egypt. The stoppage was costing the canal up to $15 million a day. 
 
Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. 
 
Maersk was among shippers rerouting cargoes around the Cape of Good Hope, adding up to two weeks to journeys and extra fuel costs.

Shipping was on the move again late on Monday in Egypt`s Suez Canal after tugs refloated a giant container ship which had been blocking the channel for almost a week, causing a huge build-up of vessels around the waterway.

Shipping was on the move again late on Monday in Egypt`s Suez Canal after tugs refloated a giant container ship which had been blocking the channel for almost a week, causing a huge build-up of vessels around the waterway. With the 400-metre-long (430-yard) Ever Given dislodged, 113 ships were expected to transit the canal in both directions by early Tuesday morning, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chairman Osama Rabie told reporters. He said a backlog of 422 ships could be cleared in 3 -1/2 days. The Ever Given had become jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, in high winds early on March 23. Evergreen Line, which is leasing the Ever Given, said the ship would be inspected for seaworthiness in the Great Bitter Lake, which separates two sections of the canal. "The ship was ready for limited navigation after an initial inspection and not a single container was damaged, but a second investigation will be more precise and if it was affected it will show," Rabie said. At dawn on Monday, rescue workers from the SCA working with a team from Dutch firm Smit Salvage partially refloated the ship and straightened it in the canal. After several hours it shifted briefly back across the canal before being manoeuvred free by tugs as the tide changed, a canal source said. "The time pressure to complete this operation was evident and unprecedented," said Peter Berdowski, CEO of Smit Salvage owner Boskalis, after the Ever Given was refloated. The company said approximately 30,000 cubic metres of sand had been dredged to refloat the 224,000-tonne container ship and a total of 11 tugs and two powerful sea tugs were used to pull the ship free. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), the technical managers of the container ship, said there were no reports of pollution or cargo damage. QUEUE Vessels waiting to transit the canal include dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, Nile TV reported. Rabie said that within four days, traffic would return to normal. "We`ll work day and night to end the backlog." Vessels similar in size to the Ever Given, which is one of the world`s largest container ships, could pass through the canal safely, he added, and the SCA would not change its policy on admitting such ships. Shipping group Maersk said the knock-on disruptions to global shipping could take weeks or months to unravel. Owners and charterers of delayed ships face at least $24 million in expenses they will be unable to recoup as their insurance policies do not cover them and cargo owners could also face uninsured losses, industry sources said. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who had not publicly commented on the blockage, said Egypt had ended the crisis and assured resumption of trade through the canal. Oil prices fell 1 percent after the ship was refloated while shares of Taiwan-listed Evergreen Marine Corp rose. About 15% of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal, which is an important source of foreign currency revenue for Egypt. The stoppage was costing the canal up to $15 million a day. Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. Maersk was among shippers rerouting cargoes around the Cape of Good Hope, adding up to two weeks to journeys and extra fuel costs.

Traffic in Suez Canal resumes after stranded ship refloated

After 7 days of tugging and dredging, the massive 'Ever Given' container was refloated and shifted outside the canal. Is dependence on a single shipping route coming back to haunt the world economy? Are today's ships too big to sail?

Gravitas: Multi-billion dollar Suez jam eases

Experts on Tuesday boarded the massive container ship that had blocked Egypt's vital Suez Canal and disrupted global trade for nearly a week, seeking answers to a single question that could mean billions of dollars in legal implications: What went wrong?&nbsp;

As convoys of ships again began travelling in this artery linking East and West through the Mediterranean and Red Seas, hundreds more idled waiting for their turn in process that will take days. Egyptian government officials, insurers, shippers and others similarly waited for more details about what caused the skyscraper-sized Ever Given to become wedged across the canal's southern single-lane on March 23.&nbsp;

When blame gets assigned, it could turn into years of litigation over the costs of repairing the ship, fixing the canal and reimbursing those, who saw their cargo shipments disrupted. And with the vessel being owned by a Japanese firm, operated by a Taiwanese shipper, flagged in Panama and now stuck in Egypt, matters quickly become an international morass.&nbsp;

"This ship is a multinational conglomeration," said Capt John Konrad, the founder and CEO of the shipping news website gcaptain.Com.&nbsp;

Experts boarded the Ever Given as it idled on Tuesday in Egypt's Great Bitter Lake, just north of the site where it previously blocked the canal. A senior canal pilot, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to journalists, said that experts were looking for signs of damage and trying to determine the cause of the vessel's grounding.&nbsp;

As of Tuesday morning, more than 300 vessels carrying everything from crude oil to cattle were waiting on both ends of the Suez Canal and in the Great Bitter Lake for permission to continue sailing to their destinations, canal service provider Leth Agencies said.&nbsp;

The ship's owner, the Japanese firm Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., said Tuesday that it would be part of the investigation along with other parties, though it did not identify them by name. It also refused to discuss possible causes of the incident, including the ship's speed and the high winds that buffeted it during a sandstorm, saying it cannot comment on an ongoing investigation. Initial reports also suggested a 'blackout' struck the vessel, something denied by the ship's technical manager.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Experts on Tuesday boarded the massive container ship that had blocked Egypt's vital Suez Canal and disrupted global trade for nearly a week, seeking answers to a single question that could mean billions of dollars in legal implications: What went wrong?

Experts on Tuesday boarded the massive container ship that had blocked Egypt's vital Suez Canal and disrupted global trade for nearly a week, seeking answers to a single question that could mean billions of dollars in legal implications: What went wrong? As convoys of ships again began travelling in this artery linking East and West through the Mediterranean and Red Seas, hundreds more idled waiting for their turn in process that will take days. Egyptian government officials, insurers, shippers and others similarly waited for more details about what caused the skyscraper-sized Ever Given to become wedged across the canal's southern single-lane on March 23. When blame gets assigned, it could turn into years of litigation over the costs of repairing the ship, fixing the canal and reimbursing those, who saw their cargo shipments disrupted. And with the vessel being owned by a Japanese firm, operated by a Taiwanese shipper, flagged in Panama and now stuck in Egypt, matters quickly become an international morass. "This ship is a multinational conglomeration," said Capt John Konrad, the founder and CEO of the shipping news website gcaptain.Com. Experts boarded the Ever Given as it idled on Tuesday in Egypt's Great Bitter Lake, just north of the site where it previously blocked the canal. A senior canal pilot, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to journalists, said that experts were looking for signs of damage and trying to determine the cause of the vessel's grounding. As of Tuesday morning, more than 300 vessels carrying everything from crude oil to cattle were waiting on both ends of the Suez Canal and in the Great Bitter Lake for permission to continue sailing to their destinations, canal service provider Leth Agencies said. The ship's owner, the Japanese firm Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., said Tuesday that it would be part of the investigation along with other parties, though it did not identify them by name. It also refused to discuss possible causes of the incident, including the ship's speed and the high winds that buffeted it during a sandstorm, saying it cannot comment on an ongoing investigation. Initial reports also suggested a 'blackout' struck the vessel, something denied by the ship's technical manager. (With inputs from agencies)

Probe into Suez Canal blockage begins 

Suez is one of the world's busiest trade routes, and companies were forced to reroute ships, causing long tailbacks of hundreds of vessels.

Ever given ship moves again

Suez Canal&nbsp;ship blocking the traffic in the vital waterway&nbsp;has been freed from the shoreline as per media reports that have cited local authorities.

"Admiral Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority, has announced the resumption of shipping traffic in the Suez Canal," the Suez Canal Authority said in a statement, shortly after shipping sites had showed it to have once more diagonally blocked the waterway.

Early on Monday, the ship was turned in right direction on Monday, triggering praise from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and raising hopes traffic could soon resume.

Longer than four football fields, the MV Ever Given became wedged diagonally across the canal during a sandstorm last Tuesday, strangling world supply chains.

Maritime data company Lloyd's List says the blockage held&nbsp;up an estimated $9.6 billion worth of cargo each day between Asia and Europe, with the tailback of ships now reaching 425 at the two ends of the canal, in the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

Just how important Suez Canal is for global economy was evident as oil prices eased on Monday after traffic resumed in the Suez Canal. Crude oil prices had reduced earlier when the ship&nbsp;was partially freed. However, they had rebounded quickly afterwards when salvage experts said the hardest work was ahead. The easing of prices is more pronounced now as per AFP.

Suez Canal ship blocking the traffic in the vital waterway has been freed from the shoreline as per media reports that have cited local authorities. "Admiral Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority, has announced the resumption of shipping traffic in the Suez Canal," the Suez Canal Authority said in a statement, shortly after shipping sites had showed it to have once more diagonally blocked the waterway.

Suez Canal ship blocking the traffic in the vital waterway has been freed from the shoreline as per media reports that have cited local authorities. "Admiral Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority, has announced the resumption of shipping traffic in the Suez Canal," the Suez Canal Authority said in a statement, shortly after shipping sites had showed it to have once more diagonally blocked the waterway. Early on Monday, the ship was turned in right direction on Monday, triggering praise from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and raising hopes traffic could soon resume. Longer than four football fields, the MV Ever Given became wedged diagonally across the canal during a sandstorm last Tuesday, strangling world supply chains. Maritime data company Lloyd's List says the blockage held up an estimated $9.6 billion worth of cargo each day between Asia and Europe, with the tailback of ships now reaching 425 at the two ends of the canal, in the Mediterranean and Red Sea. Just how important Suez Canal is for global economy was evident as oil prices eased on Monday after traffic resumed in the Suez Canal. Crude oil prices had reduced earlier when the ship was partially freed. However, they had rebounded quickly afterwards when salvage experts said the hardest work was ahead. The easing of prices is more pronounced now as per AFP.

Suez Canal: Ship blocking the traffic freed from shoreline, say reports

One of the world's busiest waterways, the Suez Canal, was blocked for the 6th consecutive day on Sunday but the Ever Given ship blocking the canal 'successfully refloated' on Monday.

Ship blocking Suez Canal moves slightly but crisis not over yet

With hopes rising that the partial refloating of the Ever Given means the Suez Canal will soon reopen for business, shipping analysts cautioned that it will take time — perhaps days — for the hundreds of ships now waiting for passage to continue their journeys.

Shipping analysts estimated the colossal traffic jam was holding up nearly $10 billion in trade every day.

“All global retail trade moves in containers, or 90% of it,” said Alan Murphy, the founder of Sea-Intelligence, a maritime data and analysis firm. “Name any brand name, and they will be stuck on one of those vessels.”

The Syrian government said over the weekend that it will begin rationing the use of fuel after the closure of the Suez Canal delayed the delivery of a critical shipment of oil to the war-torn nation.

And in Lebanon, which in recent months has suffered blackouts amid an economic and political crisis, local media were reporting that the country’s shaky fuel supply risks further disruption if the blockage continues.

With the backlog of ships now stuck outside the canal growing to more than 300 on Sunday, the threat to the oil supplies in those two countries was an early indication of how quickly the disruption to the smooth functioning of global trade could ripple outward and cause real-world pain.

Virtually every container ship making the journey from factories in Asia to consumer markets in Europe passes through the channel. So do tankers laden with oil and natural gas.

The shutdown of the canal is affecting as much as 15% of the world’s container shipping capacity, according to Moody’s Investor Service, leading to delays at ports around the globe. Tankers carrying 9.8 million barrels of crude, about a tenth of a day’s global consumption, are now waiting to enter the canal, estimates Kpler, a firm that tracks petroleum shipping.

The Syrian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said the blockage of the canal had “hindered the oil supplies to Syria and delayed arrival of a tanker carrying oil and oil derivations to Syria.”

Rationing was needed, the ministry said in a statement, “in order to guarantee the continued supply of basic services to Syrians such as bakeries, hospitals, water stations, communication centers, and other vital institutions.”

With hopes rising that the partial refloating of the Ever Given means the Suez Canal will soon reopen for business, shipping analysts cautioned that it will take time — perhaps days — for the hundreds of ships now waiting for passage to continue their journeys.

With hopes rising that the partial refloating of the Ever Given means the Suez Canal will soon reopen for business, shipping analysts cautioned that it will take time — perhaps days — for the hundreds of ships now waiting for passage to continue their journeys. Shipping analysts estimated the colossal traffic jam was holding up nearly $10 billion in trade every day. “All global retail trade moves in containers, or 90% of it,” said Alan Murphy, the founder of Sea-Intelligence, a maritime data and analysis firm. “Name any brand name, and they will be stuck on one of those vessels.” The Syrian government said over the weekend that it will begin rationing the use of fuel after the closure of the Suez Canal delayed the delivery of a critical shipment of oil to the war-torn nation. And in Lebanon, which in recent months has suffered blackouts amid an economic and political crisis, local media were reporting that the country’s shaky fuel supply risks further disruption if the blockage continues. With the backlog of ships now stuck outside the canal growing to more than 300 on Sunday, the threat to the oil supplies in those two countries was an early indication of how quickly the disruption to the smooth functioning of global trade could ripple outward and cause real-world pain. Virtually every container ship making the journey from factories in Asia to consumer markets in Europe passes through the channel. So do tankers laden with oil and natural gas. The shutdown of the canal is affecting as much as 15% of the world’s container shipping capacity, according to Moody’s Investor Service, leading to delays at ports around the globe. Tankers carrying 9.8 million barrels of crude, about a tenth of a day’s global consumption, are now waiting to enter the canal, estimates Kpler, a firm that tracks petroleum shipping. The Syrian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said the blockage of the canal had “hindered the oil supplies to Syria and delayed arrival of a tanker carrying oil and oil derivations to Syria.” Rationing was needed, the ministry said in a statement, “in order to guarantee the continued supply of basic services to Syrians such as bakeries, hospitals, water stations, communication centers, and other vital institutions.”

Even after canal is cleared, ending backlog of will take time

The stranding of a container ship in the Suez Canal has created disruptions in the global shipping industry that could take weeks and possibly months to clear, top container shipping lines said.&nbsp;

Around 30% of the world's shipping container volume - including goods like sofas, consumer electronics, apparel and shoes - moves through the 193 km (120 miles) Suez Canal daily. Empty containers, which Asian factories need to ship goods, are also caught up in the backlog.&nbsp;

"Even when the canal gets reopened, the ripple effects on global capacity and equipment are significant," the world's largest container shipping company Maersk said in a customer advisory on Monday.&nbsp;

Maersk has three vessels stuck in the canal and another 29 waiting to enter, it said, adding that it had so far rerouted 15 vessels to sail south of Africa instead.&nbsp;

"Assessing the current backlog of vessels, it could take six days or more for the complete queue to pass," it said.&nbsp;

Switzerland's MSC, the world's number 2 line, said separately on Saturday, the situation was 'going to result in one of the biggest disruptions to global trade in recent years'.&nbsp;

"Unfortunately, even when the canal re-opens for the huge backlog of ships waiting at anchorage, this will lead to a surge in arrivals at certain ports and we may experience fresh congestion problems," Caroline Becquart, Senior Vice President with MSC said in a statement.&nbsp;

"We envisage the second quarter of 2021 being more disrupted than the first three months, and perhaps even more challenging than it was at the end of last year."&nbsp;

Container shipping companies have been struggling for months with disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and a surge in demand for retail goods that led to wider logistical bottlenecks around the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The stranding of a container ship in the Suez Canal has created disruptions in the global shipping industry that could take weeks and possibly months to clear, top container shipping lines said.

The stranding of a container ship in the Suez Canal has created disruptions in the global shipping industry that could take weeks and possibly months to clear, top container shipping lines said. Around 30% of the world's shipping container volume - including goods like sofas, consumer electronics, apparel and shoes - moves through the 193 km (120 miles) Suez Canal daily. Empty containers, which Asian factories need to ship goods, are also caught up in the backlog. "Even when the canal gets reopened, the ripple effects on global capacity and equipment are significant," the world's largest container shipping company Maersk said in a customer advisory on Monday. Maersk has three vessels stuck in the canal and another 29 waiting to enter, it said, adding that it had so far rerouted 15 vessels to sail south of Africa instead. "Assessing the current backlog of vessels, it could take six days or more for the complete queue to pass," it said. Switzerland's MSC, the world's number 2 line, said separately on Saturday, the situation was 'going to result in one of the biggest disruptions to global trade in recent years'. "Unfortunately, even when the canal re-opens for the huge backlog of ships waiting at anchorage, this will lead to a surge in arrivals at certain ports and we may experience fresh congestion problems," Caroline Becquart, Senior Vice President with MSC said in a statement. "We envisage the second quarter of 2021 being more disrupted than the first three months, and perhaps even more challenging than it was at the end of last year." Container shipping companies have been struggling for months with disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and a surge in demand for retail goods that led to wider logistical bottlenecks around the world. (With inputs from agencies)

Ship backlogs from Suez chaos could take months to clear: Container lines  

A colossal container ship&nbsp;blocking Egypt's Suez Canal for nearly a week has been partially refloated, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said on Monday.

An official from Shoei Kisen said the skyscraper-sized Ever Given was "stuck at an angle of 30 degrees towards the canal but that has eased," adding that the ship "has turned" but it "is not afloat."

The SCA&nbsp;said Ever Given has been straightened in the canal and further tugging operations would resume once the tide rises later on Monday. Marine traffic through the canal will resume once the ship is directed to the lakes area, a wider section of the canal, it added.

A video posted on social media appeared to show the ship's stern had swung around, opening space in the canal.

The 400 metre (430 yard) long Ever Given became wedged diagonally across a southern section of the canal amid high winds early on Tuesday, blocking one of the world's busiest waterways.&nbsp;The obstruction is holding up $9 billion each day in global trade and straining supply chains already burdened by the coronavirus pandemic.

About 15 per cent of world shipping traffic transits the canal and hundreds of vessels are waiting to pass once the blockage is cleared.

At least 369 vessels were waiting to transit the canal, including dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, SCA Chairman Osama Rabie told Egypt`s Extra News on Sunday.

Rabie earlier said he hoped it would not be necessary to remove some of the 18,300 containers to lighten the ship's load, but that strong tides and winds were complicating efforts to free it.

Tugging attempts restarted on Saturday afternoon and further efforts were planned on Saturday night and Sunday morning, SCA sources said, though they added it could be necessary to remove more sand from around the ship to free it. The Suez Canal Authority had earlier said in a statement that tugging operations to free the ship had resumed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-offers-to-help-egypt-in-freeing-the-suez-canal-ship-373927">Also read |&nbsp;Russia offers to help Egypt in freeing Suez Canal ship</a>

Dredgers removed some 20,000 tonnes of sand from around its bow by Friday. A Dutch firm working to free the vessel said it could be freed by the start of next week if heavier tugboats, dredging and a high tide succeed in dislodging it.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday thanked foreign partners for offers to help refloat the ship.

Fourteen tugs had been involved in efforts to refloat the Ever Given till Saturday.

Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions.

(The headline and the text of the story have been edited to accommodate the statement by the marine services firm.)

A colossal container ship blocking Egypt's Suez Canal for nearly a week has been partially refloated, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said on Monday. An official from Shoei Kisen said the skyscraper-sized Ever Given was "stuck at an angle of 30 degrees towards the canal but that has eased," adding that the ship "has turned" but it "is not afloat.

A colossal container ship blocking Egypt's Suez Canal for nearly a week has been partially refloated, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said on Monday. An official from Shoei Kisen said the skyscraper-sized Ever Given was "stuck at an angle of 30 degrees towards the canal but that has eased," adding that the ship "has turned" but it "is not afloat." The SCA said Ever Given has been straightened in the canal and further tugging operations would resume once the tide rises later on Monday. Marine traffic through the canal will resume once the ship is directed to the lakes area, a wider section of the canal, it added. A video posted on social media appeared to show the ship's stern had swung around, opening space in the canal. The 400 metre (430 yard) long Ever Given became wedged diagonally across a southern section of the canal amid high winds early on Tuesday, blocking one of the world's busiest waterways. The obstruction is holding up $9 billion each day in global trade and straining supply chains already burdened by the coronavirus pandemic. About 15 per cent of world shipping traffic transits the canal and hundreds of vessels are waiting to pass once the blockage is cleared. At least 369 vessels were waiting to transit the canal, including dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, SCA Chairman Osama Rabie told Egypt`s Extra News on Sunday. Rabie earlier said he hoped it would not be necessary to remove some of the 18,300 containers to lighten the ship's load, but that strong tides and winds were complicating efforts to free it. Tugging attempts restarted on Saturday afternoon and further efforts were planned on Saturday night and Sunday morning, SCA sources said, though they added it could be necessary to remove more sand from around the ship to free it. The Suez Canal Authority had earlier said in a statement that tugging operations to free the ship had resumed. Also read | Russia offers to help Egypt in freeing Suez Canal ship Dredgers removed some 20,000 tonnes of sand from around its bow by Friday. A Dutch firm working to free the vessel said it could be freed by the start of next week if heavier tugboats, dredging and a high tide succeed in dislodging it. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday thanked foreign partners for offers to help refloat the ship. Fourteen tugs had been involved in efforts to refloat the Ever Given till Saturday. Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. (The headline and the text of the story have been edited to accommodate the statement by the marine services firm.)

Stranded ship blocking Suez Canal partially refloated, more work needed

Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway.

"We hope that this problem will be overcome in the very near future, that the work of the channel will be restored, and, naturally, we are ready to provide our Egyptian friends with any possible assistance from our side," said Georgy Borisenko, the Russian ambassador. He was speaking Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency.

Borisenko added that Egypt has not reached out to Moscow for support, but said Russia "empathises with what's happening now in the Suez Canal", describing it as "an important waterway for the whole world".

On Saturday, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie had told reporters that the massive ship could be afloat by Sunday night.&nbsp;

The blockage of Suez Canal is costing shipping companies billions of dollars as they have been forced to operate their ships around Africa adding more days in the travel.

Another Russian ambassador had earlier this week seized on the Suez Canal blockage to promote Russia's northern shipping route as a reliable alternative, part of a broader push by Moscow to develop the Arctic and capitalise on climate change.&nbsp;

Moscow has invested heavily in the development of the Northern Sea Route that allows ships to cut the journey to Asian ports by 15 days compared with the conventional route via the Suez Canal.

(With AFP inputs)

Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway.

Russian ambassador to Egypt said Russia was prepared to offer "any possible assistance" to free the ship stuck in Suez Canal. The ship MV Ever Given has been stuck diagonally in the Suez canal thus blocking the traffic through one of the world's most important waterway. "We hope that this problem will be overcome in the very near future, that the work of the channel will be restored, and, naturally, we are ready to provide our Egyptian friends with any possible assistance from our side," said Georgy Borisenko, the Russian ambassador. He was speaking Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency. Borisenko added that Egypt has not reached out to Moscow for support, but said Russia "empathises with what's happening now in the Suez Canal", describing it as "an important waterway for the whole world". On Saturday, Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie had told reporters that the massive ship could be afloat by Sunday night. The blockage of Suez Canal is costing shipping companies billions of dollars as they have been forced to operate their ships around Africa adding more days in the travel. Another Russian ambassador had earlier this week seized on the Suez Canal blockage to promote Russia's northern shipping route as a reliable alternative, part of a broader push by Moscow to develop the Arctic and capitalise on climate change. Moscow has invested heavily in the development of the Northern Sea Route that allows ships to cut the journey to Asian ports by 15 days compared with the conventional route via the Suez Canal. (With AFP inputs)

Russia offers to help Egypt in freeing Suez Canal ship

Efforts to dislodge a giant container ship blocking the Suez Canal have allowed its stern and rudder to move, but it remains unclear when it can be refloated, the head of the canal authority said on Saturday. 
 
The 400 metre (430 yard) long Ever Given became wedged diagonally across a southern section of the canal amid high winds early on Tuesday, blocking one of the world`s busiest waterways. 
 
About 15% of world shipping traffic transits the canal and hundreds of vessels are waiting to pass once the blockage has been cleared. 
 
Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie said he hoped it would not be necessary to remove some of the 18,300 containers to lighten the ship`s load, but that strong tides and winds were complicating efforts to free it. 
 
"The ship`s stern began to move towards Suez, and that was a positive sign until 11 p.m. (2100 GMT) at night, but the tide fell significantly and we stopped," Rabie told journalists in Suez. 
 
"We expect that at any time the ship could slide and move from the spot it is in." 
 
Dredgers removed some 20,000 tonnes of sand from around its bow by Friday. A Dutch firm working to free the vessel said it could be freed by the start of next week if heavier tugboats, dredging and a high tide succeed in dislodging it. 
 
Tugging attempts restarted on Saturday afternoon and further efforts were planned on Saturday night and Sunday morning, SCA sources said, though they added it could be necessary to remove more sand from around the ship to free it. 
 
Two SCA sources said there had been further, minor progress in dislodging the ship on Saturday. One source said there had been some movement at the bow of the ship. 
 
"When dealing with a ship of this size, its behaviour with the dredgers is unknown, we don`t know how it will respond to the pulling," said Rabie. 
 
The head of Boskalis, parent company of Dutch firm Smit Salvage which has been brought in to help the SCA, said heavy tugboats with a combined capacity of 400 tonnes would arrive sometime this weekend. 
 
REALLY STUCK 
 
"We aim to get it done after the weekend, but everything will have to work out exactly right for that," Boskalis Chief Executive Peter Berdowski told Dutch TV programme Nieuwsuur late on Friday. 
 
"The bow is really stuck in the sandy clay, but the stern has not been pushed totally into the clay, which is positive. We can try to use that as leverage to pull it loose," Berdowski said. 
 
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday thanked foreign partners for offers to help refloat the ship. 
 
Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. 
 
If it drags on, shippers may decide to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding about two weeks to journeys and extra fuel costs. Rabie said the ships that are waiting were free to reroute around the Cape, but none had yet done so. 
 
He said 321 vessels were waiting to enter or continue their transit through the canal. Those included dozens of container ships, bulk carriers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, according to a shipping source. 
 
Fourteen tugs have so far been involved in efforts to refloat the Ever Given, although Boskalis and Smit Salvage have warned that using too much force to tug the ship could damage it. 
 
Berdowski said a land crane would be brought in at the weekend which could lighten the Ever Given`s load by removing containers, though experts have warned that such a process could be complex and lengthy. 
 
"If we don`t succeed in getting it loose next week, we will have to remove some 600 containers from the bow to reduce the weight," he said. "That will set us back days at least, because where to leave all those containers will be quite a puzzle." 
 
Rabie said empty container ships with cranes could offload containers.

Efforts to dislodge a giant container ship blocking the Suez Canal have allowed its stern and rudder to move, but it remains unclear when it can be refloated, the head of the canal authority said on Saturday.

Efforts to dislodge a giant container ship blocking the Suez Canal have allowed its stern and rudder to move, but it remains unclear when it can be refloated, the head of the canal authority said on Saturday. The 400 metre (430 yard) long Ever Given became wedged diagonally across a southern section of the canal amid high winds early on Tuesday, blocking one of the world`s busiest waterways. About 15% of world shipping traffic transits the canal and hundreds of vessels are waiting to pass once the blockage has been cleared. Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie said he hoped it would not be necessary to remove some of the 18,300 containers to lighten the ship`s load, but that strong tides and winds were complicating efforts to free it. "The ship`s stern began to move towards Suez, and that was a positive sign until 11 p.m. (2100 GMT) at night, but the tide fell significantly and we stopped," Rabie told journalists in Suez. "We expect that at any time the ship could slide and move from the spot it is in." Dredgers removed some 20,000 tonnes of sand from around its bow by Friday. A Dutch firm working to free the vessel said it could be freed by the start of next week if heavier tugboats, dredging and a high tide succeed in dislodging it. Tugging attempts restarted on Saturday afternoon and further efforts were planned on Saturday night and Sunday morning, SCA sources said, though they added it could be necessary to remove more sand from around the ship to free it. Two SCA sources said there had been further, minor progress in dislodging the ship on Saturday. One source said there had been some movement at the bow of the ship. "When dealing with a ship of this size, its behaviour with the dredgers is unknown, we don`t know how it will respond to the pulling," said Rabie. The head of Boskalis, parent company of Dutch firm Smit Salvage which has been brought in to help the SCA, said heavy tugboats with a combined capacity of 400 tonnes would arrive sometime this weekend. REALLY STUCK "We aim to get it done after the weekend, but everything will have to work out exactly right for that," Boskalis Chief Executive Peter Berdowski told Dutch TV programme Nieuwsuur late on Friday. "The bow is really stuck in the sandy clay, but the stern has not been pushed totally into the clay, which is positive. We can try to use that as leverage to pull it loose," Berdowski said. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday thanked foreign partners for offers to help refloat the ship. Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. If it drags on, shippers may decide to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding about two weeks to journeys and extra fuel costs. Rabie said the ships that are waiting were free to reroute around the Cape, but none had yet done so. He said 321 vessels were waiting to enter or continue their transit through the canal. Those included dozens of container ships, bulk carriers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, according to a shipping source. Fourteen tugs have so far been involved in efforts to refloat the Ever Given, although Boskalis and Smit Salvage have warned that using too much force to tug the ship could damage it. Berdowski said a land crane would be brought in at the weekend which could lighten the Ever Given`s load by removing containers, though experts have warned that such a process could be complex and lengthy. "If we don`t succeed in getting it loose next week, we will have to remove some 600 containers from the bow to reduce the weight," he said. "That will set us back days at least, because where to leave all those containers will be quite a puzzle." Rabie said empty container ships with cranes could offload containers.

Ship blocking Suez Canal moves slightly, unclear when it will refloat

Positive news came from Suez canal on Saturday as the Dutch salvage firm said that the stuck ship will be freed from the canal bed early next week.

Suez Canal Blockade: Efforts to re-float ship underway

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