The Ever Given, a ship of over 220,000 tons and 400 meters long, ran aground in the width of the Suez Canal overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, blocking the passage of other ships through this major maritime axis. .
It could take several weeks for it to return to normal.
The Suez Canal is still closed to shipping on Thursday morning due to a 400-meter container ship stranded across the waterway, which is expected to slow shipping for several days on this key trade route between Europe and Asia.
The incident that took place overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday resulted in massive congestion of ships and significant delays in the delivery of petroleum and other commercial products.
The news caused oil prices to jump on Wednesday.
"The congestion will take several days or weeks to subside"
According to an evolving map from the bladelfinder site, dozens of ships wait at both ends of the canal and in the waiting area in the middle of the canal.
Several tugs dispatched by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) have been trying to free the giant from the seas since Wednesday morning.
The incident should slow down shipping for a few days, but the consequences in economic terms should remain limited if the situation does not drag on, according to experts.
Satellite view of the Suez Canal, obstructed in its width by the Ever Given, a ship 400 meters long. © PLANET LABS / AFP
This is the first time that such an incident has occurred in the Suez Canal. © Suez CANAL / AFP
"We have never seen anything like this before, but it is likely that the congestion (...) will take several days or weeks to subside, as it should have a ripple effect on other convoys, schedules and global markets, "said Ranjith Raja, head of Middle Eastern oil and maritime research at financial data aggregator Refinitiv.
The Ever Given, a ship weighing over 220,000 tonnes, which was heading to Rotterdam from Asia, ran aground overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, shortly after entering the canal, not far from the city of Suez .
[#AmerDuJour]
On the morning of March 23, the # container carrier Ever Given accidentally ran aground across the #Suez canal, not far from the entrance to the Red Sea.
Seven tugs are mobilized to put the ship in working order (@_lemarin) pic.twitter.com/kPAo6Hbquc
- CESM (@CESMMarine) March 24, 2021
A gust of wind at the origin of the accident
According to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), the Singapore-based company responsible for the technical management of the vessel, the 25 crew members are safe and sound.
And there was no pollution or damage to the cargo of the vessel with a capacity of over 20,000 boxes (TEU or TEU).
Experts cite strong winds as one of the causes of the incident on the 60-meter-high ship.
The SCA also mentions the reduced visibility due to a sand wind, which is common in Egypt at this time of the year.
Inaugurated in 1869, the canal has since undergone several phases of expansion and modernization in order to support changes in maritime trade.
A link between Asia and Europe, it drastically reduces distances: 6,000 km less between Singapore and Rotterdam for example, or one to two weeks of travel time saved, compared to bypassing Africa.