Suez Canal Unblocked: Ever Given Refloated, Traffic Resumes Week After Ship Gets Stuck Blocking Many Other Vessels

MV Ever Given was refloated and the Suez Canal reopened on March 29. This comes as a relief almost a week after the huge container ship got stuck during a sandstorm & blocked a major artery for global trade. Maritime data company Lloyd’s List said the blockage had held up an estimated $9.6 billion worth of cargo each day between Asia & Europe. The Japanese-owned ship had been partially dislodged early on March 29, triggering immediate praise from Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt was estimated to have lost some $12-14 million in revenue from the canal for each day it was closed, according to the canal authority. Salvage crews have been working around the clock. They had focused on efforts to remove sand around the ship, with 27,000 cubic metres (over 950,000 cubic feet) cleared at a depth of 18 metres (59 feet), SCA spokesman George Safwat said on March 28. Watch the video to know more.