A giant shipwreck ran aground in the Suez Canal on Tuesday, blocking all vessels’ traffic and creating a lagging ship on one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
The Ever Given, a 400-meter container ship, crashed sideways into the canal, crashing with its bow into one bank and the stern almost touching the other, according to ship operators and images posted on social media.
The ship, which is operated by the Evergreen Group in Taiwan, is one of the largest ocean-going vessels. It can move more than 20,000 containers and is taller than the Empire State Building when turned upright.
“There are at least 100 ships waiting to pass between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean,” said a London broker. “Tugboats try to drive it again, but it’s not going to be easy.”
The Suez Canal Authority, which operates the canal, was not immediately available for comment. An Evergreen spokesman said the ship was likely hit by strong winds, causing the hull to deviate from the canal and run aground.