One of the world’s busiest waterways, Suez Canal has been blocked by a gigantic container ship, Ever Given, operated by the Taiwanese company Evergreen Marine. The ship is 400m long, and is still currently lying across the southern end of the canal preventing other ships from getting through.
Data from shipping expert Lloyd’s List values the canal’s westbound traffic at roughly $5.1bn a day, and eastbound daily traffic at around $4.5bn. About 12% of total global trade moves through the canal.
Right now there are other ships using cables or placing themselves directly alongside the stricken Ever Given, up to 14 tugs have been attempting to move the ship off sand banks on both sides of the canal.
But all efforts to dislodge the ship have so far proved unsuccessful although the Suez Canal. We’ll just have to see what happens in the next few days…
Cartoons by Stellina 