Traffic along the Suez Canal is expected to resume soon as the giant container blocking it has been partially refloated, APNews reports. The 400-metre, 224,000-tonne Ever Given container ship was stranded on Tuesday after failing to steer amid high winds and dust storm.
About 30% of global container ship traffic passes through the Suez Canal each day, carrying cargo ranging from fuel to consumer goods.
The main alternative to the Suez Canal for ships travelling between Asia and Europe, around the African cape, takes a week longer to navigate.
At least 30 ships were blocked to the north of the Ever Given, and three to the south, while several ships were grouped around the northern and southern entrances to the canal.
15 other ships in the northbound convoy behind the Ever Given were detained at anchorages, while a southbound convoy was blocked.
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, the ship’s technical manager, said an investigation was underway.
The container blockage increases the risk of additional congestion at European ports in the next week-Lars Jensen, CEO at SeaIntelligence Consulting.
In 2020, almost 19,000 ships, or an average of 51.5 per day, passed through the Suez Canal.
About 12% of world trade by volume passes through the Suez Canal, and it is a major source of hard currency for Egypt.
