- Dredgers working to dislodge the stranded vessel have so far shifted 27,000 cubic metres of sand, to a depth of 18 metres.
- Efforts would continue around the clock according to wind conditions and tides.
- Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ordered preparations for the possible removal of some of the ship’s 18,300 containers.
A recent news article published in Reuters and Business Today highlight the urgency and importance of removing the stranded ship in Suez Canal.
Rock under the ship’s bow
Suez Canal salvage teams were alternating between dredging and tugging on Sunday to dislodge a massive container ship blocking the busy waterway, while two sources said efforts had been complicated by rock under the ship’s bow.
Any operation to lighten the ship’s load would not start before Monday, an SCA source said.
The ship’s critical position
The 400-metre (430-yard) long Ever Given became jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal in high winds more than five days ago, halting shipping traffic in one of the world’s busiest waterways.
369 boats waiting to transit the canal
At least 369 boats are waiting to transit the canal, Rabie said, including dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels.
Positive indicators
- The rudder was not moving and it is now moving.
- The propeller is working now.
- There was no water underneath the bow.
- Now there is water under it, and yesterday there was a 4-metre deviation in the bow and the stern.
How about the shipping rates for oil product tankers?
Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions.
If the blockage drags on, shippers may decide to reroute their cargoes around the Cape of Good Hope, adding about two weeks to journeys and extra fuel costs.
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Source: Reuters & Business Today
