A cargo ship has brought the Suez Canal and the world to a halt. The container, the size of a skyscraper, has choked traffic in both directions along Egypt’s Suez Canal and created what is being referred to as the world’s largest shipping jam. Attempts to clear the way using tugs and diggers failed to dislodge the massive container ship stuck in the Suez Canal.
The Ever Given, a Panama-flagged ship that carries cargo between Asia and Europe, ran around Tuesday in the narrow, man-made canal dividing continental Africa from the Sinai Peninsula. In the time since, efforts to free the ship using dredgers, digging and the aid of high tides have yet to push the container vessel aside. Egyptian officials and others were due to begin work again to free the vessel Thursday morning after halting for the night.
As attempts continue to clear the blockade, a bulldozer (excavator) has been brought in to help clear the silt and sand accumulating near the Ever Given.
While it is unclear how and when the ship will finally be rescued, the Suez Canal “experts" on the Internet have already come up with ways to “fix" the unusual situation.
my aunt who is both a pilot and an engineer is on her way to fix the suez canal blockage! pic.twitter.com/SBeasa2Dq1— oatmeal influencer (@acechhh) March 24, 2021
Attaching my comments to the Suez Canal team. Pls fix ASAP, thx pic.twitter.com/7W5GYasURq— Bart P. Fuchs IV (@ThisGuyFuchz) March 25, 2021
I know how to fix the suez canal pic.twitter.com/SW1HvAeASi— M📉cro Jackson (@Pittfan1852) March 25, 2021
wish me luck lads pic.twitter.com/rszl6yaQCo— Guybrush Huntgood (@Meat__Hook) March 25, 2021
My ambitious plan to free the boat is to push a huge cotton swab up the canal pic.twitter.com/ZnY4ehu8fx— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) March 25, 2021
pic.twitter.com/9mSXYk7cy3— John W. Rich (Fake Tech Exec) (@Cokedupoptions) March 25, 2021
Just solved the Suez Canal crisis… idk why this is so hard pic.twitter.com/pwELuT1ByD— Dr. Parik Patel, BA, CFA, ACCA Esq. 💸 (@ParikPatelCFA) March 25, 2021
They all laughed, but there's about a thousand ships in the Suez Canal who could use this right now. pic.twitter.com/NyWkyarkWf— Julie Gerstein (@havethehabit) March 24, 2021
HOW DID THE INCIDENT OCCUR?
The incident began on Tuesday when strong winds blasted in the region and kicked up sands along the banks. The narrow waterway and the difficulty in navigating due to poor visibility resulted in the crew losing control of the ship which careened sideways into a sandy embankment. Tugs and diggers have so far failed to dislodge a massive container ship stuck in the Suez Canal on Wednesday.
