Ship returns to normal position after blocking Suez Canal for 6 days
Cairo, Mar 29 (efe-epa).- A massive container ship that has been stuck across the Suez Canal for almost a week has been set free, the Suez Canal Authority said on Monday.
The SCA aired live footage of the Panama-flagged ship, Ever Given, moving away from the shore after it returned to its normal position.
Canal services firm Leth Agencies said that the 400-meter long and 220,000-ton vessel is currently sailing north, “underway to Great Bitter Lake.”
Privately-owned Egyptian broadcaster Extra News reported that trade through the waterway is expected resume Monday afternoon.
Navigation through the Suez Canal was suspended after Ever Given ran aground when the crew lost visibility amid strong winds and a sandstorm on Tuesday.
The blockade has prevented a total of 326 other cargo vessels from passing through the major shipping route, illustrating the canal’s vital role as a major global shipping artery.
Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi praised his compatriots for successfully ending the crisis that was triggered by the container ship becoming stuck in the canal, which has delayed hundreds of cargo vessels.
“And by restoring matters to their normal course, with Egyptian hands, the whole world can be assured of the path of its goods and needs that pass through this navigational artery,” added al-Sisi in a Facebook post.
The 193-km (120 miles) waterway connects the Mediterranean and Red seas, providing the shortest shipping route between Asia and Europe.
Last year, a total of 18,829 ships passed through the Suez with a total net tonnage of 1.17 billion tons, bringing in revenue of $5.61 billion.
