The Suez Canal Authority is continuing their efforts to free the giant container ship Ever Given which has been blocking the Suez Canal since running aground last week.

Published 4 years ago

Major shipping companies have begun to re-route their cargo ships around the Cape of Good Hope as the giant container ship Ever Given continues to block the Suez Canal.

During a northbound transit, the mega-ship Ever Given was seen moving very close to the left-hand bank of the canal. This caused what is known as the “canal effect”, when the pressure differences on
each side of the ship’s hull cause the stern to swing violently towards
the near bank, and obviously therefore the bow will swing out towards
the far bank. The ship hit the east bank at the southern end of the canal and became stuck fast.

It is likely strong winds caused the problem and possibly the Captain of the ship not adjusting the course correctly to take account of the wind. Once “canal effect” starts to take hold, there is nothing
the ship can do to stop it. This is very well explained in the Financial Times.

Retired British Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe was quoted in The
Guardian Newspaper as saying that the best bet for the next attempt to
move the container ship would be a high tide on Sunday, but because the
ship was aground both front and rear there was a risk the hull could
rupture if rescuers pulled too hard.

Reports today are that the ship will be towed to the Great Bitter Lakes this morning.

As soon as revised transit timings for small craft become available they will be posted on Noonsite.

Related News:

The Guardian:  US offers help

CNN:  Why the Suez Canal is so important

The Guardian:  Salvage teams called in to help