Photo: MAHMOUD KHALED / Contributor (Getty Images)
All the way back in March, the Ever Given container ship blocked up the Suez Canal, helping to push a shipping industry strained by the COVID-19 pandemic to the breaking point. Now, over three months later, the ship is finally on its way out of the Suez Canal.
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The Ever Given became a global sensation when, after an intense sandstorm, the cargo ship became stuck on the bank of the Suez Canal for six days. The process of getting the ship out involved an orchestra of dedicated workers and equipment. But even though the ship was free, the Suez Canal Authority impounded the vessel in a holding spot in the canal called the Great Bitter Lake. The ship, its crew and its 18,000 containers of goods were stuck once again.
The Ever Given Is Finally Free To Sail The Seven Seas
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All the way back in March, the Ever Given container ship blocked up the Suez Canal, helping to push a shipping industry strained by the COVID-19 pandemic to the breaking point. Now, over three months later, the ship is finally on its way out of the Suez Canal.
The Ever Given became a global sensation when, after an intense sandstorm, the cargo ship became stuck on the bank of the Suez Canal for six days. The process of getting the ship out involved an orchestra of dedicated workers and equipment. But even though the ship was free, the Suez Canal Authority impounded the vessel in a holding spot in the canal called the Great Bitter Lake. The ship, its crew and its 18,000 containers of goods were stuck once again.
DAY AFTER DAY, the 24-person crew duly go about their tasks. Routine maintenance is performed. Fire drills are carried out. Minimum safe manning standards are kept. Everything is ready and raring to go. But this ship hasn’t moved for months – and most of its inhabitants haven’t set foot on land since they set sail more than 100 days ago. All they can do is wait.
Outside, the Egyptian sun slowly simmers cargo headed for the UK and Germany, as well as trains destined for central and eastern Europe – wiring, lawnmowers and gazebos which will one day be bound for assembly lines, supermarket shelves and homes across the continent. Alongside surgical gowns, wheelchair parts and sun loungers, there’s also plenty of food: tea leaves, lemons and tofu all rot away in the heat. None of it can be offloaded.
Egypt to Release Evergreen Ship Which Blocked Suez Canal
7 Jul 2021
Egypt is set to release the MV Ever Given on Wednesday, over 100 days since the megaship was refloated after blocking the Suez Canal for six days, crippling global supply lines and costing billions.
The nearly 200,000-tonne container vessel became wedged across the canal during a sandstorm on March 23, blocking a vital artery from Asia to Europe that carries 10 percent of global maritime trade and pumps vital revenues into Egyptian state coffers.
After a round-the-clock salvage operation to dislodge it, Egypt seized the ship and demanded compensation from Japanese owners Shoei Kisen Kaisha for lost canal revenues, salvage costs and damage to the canal.