Thread: Suez Canal blocked after massive container ship runs aground

A container ship heading to Rotterdam has ran aground in the Suez Canal, blocking other vessels from travelling through one of the world’s busiest waterways, according to shipping company GAC and shipping data on Refinitiv Eikon.


The 200,000-tonne vessel en route from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean ran aground at about 7:40am (05:40 GMT) on Tuesday after the ship suffered a blackout, GAC said on its website.

It added that 15 other ships in the northbound convoy behind the vessel were detained at anchorages waiting for the Canal to be cleared. A southbound convoy was also blocked, GAC said, while other ships in the canal were being diverted to an older channel.


The container ship, the Ever Given, is 400 metres long (1,312 feet), 59 metres wide (193 feet), and can carry up to 20,000 20-foot (6.09 metres) equivalent (TEU) shipping containers.

Images posted on social media showed the ship, with a full cargo, blocking the entire canal lane

Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine Corp, which is leasing the vessel under a time charter, said the shipowner had informed it that the vessel “was suspected of being hit by a sudden strong wind, causing the hull to deviate from waterway and accidentally hit the bottom and run aground.


“The company has urged the shipowner to report the cause of the accident and to work out a plan with related units such as the canal administration to assist the ship in getting out of trouble as soon as possible,” Evergreen said in a statement.


The Suez Canal authorities, could not be immediately reached for comment.


More than 150 years old, the Suez Canal is one of the world’s most important trade routes and about 10 percent of all international maritime trade travels through it.


Nearly 19,000 ships, or an average of 51.5 ships per day, with a net tonnage of 1.17 billion tonnes passed through the canal during 2020, to according to the Suez Canal Authority (SCA).


The uncertainty over the blockage sent oil prices up, as investors tried assessed the impact on the global crude market.


The canal has been a boon for Egypt’s struggling economy in recent years, with the country earning $5.61bn in revenues from the waterway last year.


Suez Canal blocked after massive container ship runs aground | Shipping News | Al Jazeera

Originally Posted by misskit

the shipowner had informed it that the vessel “was suspected of being hit by a sudden strong wind, causing the hull to deviate from waterway and accidentally hit the bottom and run aground.

That's a pretty big gust of wind...

51 ships a day blocked.... oh boy! People wont be happy!

Originally Posted by russellsimpson

Any incident in any way related to oil will bring prices up, never down.

This one is a bit of a reach tbh.

That little patch of waterway sure does have an illustrious history.

The Suez crisis pretty much changed everything in terms international politics, a real game changer. Sorry to digress.

When 12% of world trade (and I'm imagining there are a few oil tankers in there) is affected, of course it is.

This immediately came to mind.

^

"The Suez Canal authorities, could not be immediately reached for comment."

Yeah I imagine they're all down by the canal shitting themselves right now.

Ever Given - over 20,000 containers 20ft:

Current position with the tug boats around:

https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=9811000

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

Must have lost power and consequently steering , then a strong gust of wind..... Must be stuck good , I am surprise the tugs did not get it moving, Half way down the canal there is a wide section it is called Bitter Lake , if they can get it there , then traffic can pass. The fee for crossing the canal can be $300-400K , so someone is loosing a lot of money.

I'm guessing these things have manoeuvring thrusters, although I'm no salty sea dog. Presumably they weren't powerful enough.

It is that time of year for winds in this part of the world.

earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions

As an interesting side note: the voices that make their living online calling Taiwan a province of China have suddenly shifted their tune. Now this is a "Taiwanese ship" causing trouble, and China is mentioned nowhere in the discourse.

For this shameful scenario, Taiwan Province, China, has simply become Taiwan.

Politics hard at work.

Originally Posted by TTraveler

As an interesting side note: the voices that make their living online calling Taiwan a province of China have suddenly shifted their tune. Now this is a "Taiwanese ship" causing trouble, and China is mentioned nowhere in the discourse.

For this shameful scenario, Taiwan Province, China, has simply become Taiwan.

Politics hard at work.

This is about a grounded ship. Not politics.

Originally Posted by Cujo

This is about a grounded ship. Not politics.

Thats exactly what he's saying, Cujo.

Apparently going to take a few days to clear...

Not much changed on the situation - just the tug boats:

Wondering if it's not fixed within few next days, how the Europe and USA would survive?

Apparently the tail back is over 165 vessels and growing, that's going to cost someone.

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Wondering if it's not fixed within few next days, how the Europe and USA would survive?

The auto industry desperately needs parts from Korea, Japan and Taiwan, meaning they will suffer even more (chips already scarce)


This would be a big chance for Russia to jump in and fill in the market gaps

First Covid to see how the west responds to a pandemic. Now a "cough" Chinese ship blocks Suez to see what happens.

Looks like they going to have to unload the ship.
Oil price will rise.

Suez Canal blocked: how Egypt moved a 200,000-tonne monster ship

Suez Canal blocked: how Egypt moved a 200,000-tonne monster ship | The National