Almost 370 boats remain stranded in the Suez Canal: what they carry

Up to 369 ships are counted trapped in Suez Canal, awaiting the detachment of the large cargo ship “Ever Given”, which ran aground for the sixth day at kilometer 151 on the south side of the canal.

This is stated by the president of the Suez Canal Authority, Osama Rage. As he points out, 25 of these ships are oil tankers. So far, despite the enormous efforts made by the Egyptian authorities, with the contribution of 14 tugboats and the excavation of sand at the site, the huge ship, 400 meters long and 59 meters wide, has cut loose the sea in two. , has not been achieved. artery.

Note that the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi instructed, in case the solution to the problem has not been achieved so far, to start preparations to implement the third scenario necessary but more difficult to remove the cargo from the ship to achieve its detachment, which will take many days. .

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The Ministry of Navigation and Insular Policy in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered assistance from the first moment to the friendly country Egypt and in cooperation with the Association of Tugboat Owners, as stated by Minister Giannis Plakiotakis in reference to the attempt to separate the stranded Ever Given. boat in Dior.

We wanted to emphasize in this way that we are available and ready to offer assistance both in terms of towing and dredging, Mr Plakiotakis said, speaking of a “big problem”. “More than 10% of world trade passes through the Suez Canal. Greece is ready to offer its assistance with means and personnel, while unfortunately we have 16 Greek ships waiting to cross the canal. We believe that safe passage through the canal will soon be possible. canal ”, underlined the Minister of Navigation and Insular Policy.

The canal, through which about 10% of maritime trade passes, has been blocked by Ever Given, a 20,000-ton, 220,000-ton container ship operated by Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen, since Tuesday, causing significant delays in the shipment.

The total value of the affected assets ranges from an estimated $ 3 billion, according to Jonathan Owens, an expert at the University of Salford, to $ 9.6 billion, according to Lloyd’s List, the British shipping newspaper.

– Petroleum-

Only 1.74 million barrels pass through the canal daily, and little of the Gulf oil destined for Europe passes 80% of the Sumed pipeline, which runs through Egypt, according to Paola Rodríguez Massiou of Rystad Energy.

According to MarineTraffic, one hundred ships carrying oil or petroleum products were currently in the waiting room. In reaction to the lockdown, black gold prices rose over the weekend, although the increase should be limited.

According to experts, stocks are sufficient and there are also other sources of supply.

But for war-torn Syria, which is under international sanctions, the blockade has delayed the shipment of several oil products from Iran, its ally, which is also subject to sanctions. Already facing shortages, Damascus announced new restrictions on Saturday.

– Animals –

The uncertainty about the time required for the return of the ship to cruise raises the problem of the supply of crews and animals.

Eleven ships leaving Romania and carrying 130,000 sheep are affected by the blockade of the canal.

“The situation is critical and is in danger of becoming an unprecedented maritime tragedy involving live animals,” warned Animals International. Egypt sent animal feed and three veterinary teams to examine the animals.

Jordan has said it expects sheep and calves, among other assets, to be trapped in the boats.

– Goods –

Swedish furniture giant Ikea clarified that it has about 110 containers at Ever Given and others on ships that are trapped.

It is “another limitation adding to the already difficult and volatile supply chain situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” a spokesperson told AFP.

Rotterdam-based Van Rees Group, a tea trading group, deplores the blocking of 80 containers of tea on 15 ships. The company predicts “chaos”, with “serious consequences (…), because the supply has stopped.”

“I told one of my clients that his flat was blocked in the Suez Canal, he didn’t believe me,” the CEO of a British logging company said on Saturday. At Ever Given you can find plenty of China-bound French oak parquet boards.

– Growing tail –

Several maritime giants, such as the Danish shipping company Maersk or the French CMA CGM, changed the course of some of their ships through the Cape of Good Hope – a detour that can represent 9,000 kilometers around the African continent, at least extra days. however, new ships continue to arrive near the canal.

In 2020, an average of 51.5 ships a day passed through Suez.

According to Maersk, all the boats trapped there would take “three to six days” to pass by Saturday.

By the end of the weekend, 32 of the world’s first container shipping group ships and their partners were affected, 15 had changed course, and that number could rise if the return to Ever Given is delayed, Maersk said.

According to Lloyd’s List, around 90% of shipments are not insured for delays.

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