- Ever Given, one of the largest cargo ships in the Suez Canal, has been stuck for almost a day.
- The ship caused a huge loggam in one of the most important trade routes in the world.
- Photos and maps below show the condition of the bottle neck.
- See more stories on Insider’s business page.
One of the most important shipping routes in the world, the Suez Canal, was blocked for a day by a massive container ship.
Ever Given, a cargo ship nearly 200 meters wide, 1,300 feet long that sails under a Panamanian flag, caused a transcontinental log jam in the Egyptian waters, connecting Europe directly with Asia.
According to Vessel Finder, the ship from the Yantian district of China is on its way to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The ship traveled through Taipei and Malaysia and was scheduled to arrive in the Netherlands on March 31 before setting up perpendicularly and blocking hundreds of cargo ships from both sides.
Container ships sail in Suez Canal during the 150th anniversary of the Suez Canal.
Gehad Hamdy / photo alliance via Getty Images
The Suez Canal was originally built in 1869, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, making it the shortest possible trade route between Europe and Asia. In 2015, the Egyptian government completed an $ 8 billion overhaul of the canal to attract more business and ensure a smoother pace.
An image shared by a crew member aboard a ship behind Ever Given gave a glimpse of the colossal traffic jam.
And on Vessel Finder, maps show that Ever Given is slowly progressing to break free from its current position.
A zoomed-in recording in the tweet below shows the small excavator previously used to try to cut loose from the Suez Canal bench on which it is stuck.
—John Scott-Railton (@jsrailton) March 23, 2021