ECONOMYNEXT – Ship traffic across the Suez canal has been suspended as efforts are made to dislodge an Evergreen container ship that is blocking the way, its operating authority said while shipping lines were mulling routing vessels around South Africa.
Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority has announced today; Thursday March 25th, 2021, that
Navigation through the Suez Canal “is temporarily suspended,” Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority said in a statement.
Routing vessels around the Horn of Africa will add about six days or more to the Far East to Europe route, shipping lines have said.
The Suez Canal Authority said 8 tugs were involved including Baraka 1 which towing power of 160 tonnes was involved in flotation efforts.
Te Panamanian registered Ever Given, which Evergreen said was a chartered vessel not owned by the group, got stuck across bows in the Suez Canal during a storm.
“This accident occurred at 6 nautical miles from the southern entry of
the Canal as the container ship proceeded northbound through the waterway from the Red Sea,” Evergreen said in a statement.
“Gusting winds of 30 knots caused the container ship to deviate from
its course, suspectedly leading to the grounding.
The floatation efforts included towing and pushing the grounding vessel using 8 large tugboats; largest of which is BARAKA 1 with a towing power of 160 tons, the Suez Canal authority said.
The stern of the vessel is stuck on a sandbank. Sand is being dug out to free the ship.
The vessel is stuck at 151 kilometre canal marking. (Colombo/Mar26/2021)