The Japanese company that owns the huge container ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal announced today (Saturday) that it will try to return the ship based on the tidal movements. This, as another attempt to propel the ship that caused a huge traffic jam.
The Ever Given, the container ship equal in height to almost every Empire State building, and about four football fields long, ran aground in the Egyptian Canal, after being caught in 40 mph winds and a sandstorm that caused low visibility and poor navigation and blocked vital crossings.
The ship stuck in the Suez Canal (Photo: CNES / AIRBUS DS via REUTERS)At a press conference held last night in Japan, a shipowner updated that there was apparently no damage to the ship’s engines or its various devices. “The ship was not filled with water, there is no problem with the rudder or propellers. Once the ship floats it will be able to operate again,” said Yukito Higaki.
The buzzer work crews hoped to be able to propel the ship today. “We are continuing the work of removing the sediment from the ship, with the help of excavation tools,” we updated. “We apologize for the traffic jam and the damage done to other companies.”
The Suez Canal Authority in Egypt said the ship deviated from its course and was damaged as a result of strong winds that caused a sandstorm, which affected visibility. The blockage caused a huge traffic jam of more than 200 ships Added at both ends of the canal, and as a result, to many delays in the transfer of goods, including of oil.
On behalf of the Japanese company, Shui Kisen, it was reported that the company considered removing the containers from the ship in order to reduce its weight, but claimed that this was a complicated and difficult operation to perform. However, the company claimed it would reconsider if there was no choice. “This is a complex technical operation that will require several attempts,” said a senior official at the Suez Canal Authority.
But every passing day involves a high cost. About 12% of the world’s trade passes through the Suez Canal, and the value of the cargo that passes through it every day is about ten billion dollars. More than 18,800 ships with a net volume of 1.17 billion tonnes passed through the canal during 2020, an average of 51.5 ships a day.