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SUEZ, KOMPAS.com – The owner of a giant container ship that got stuck and jammed the Suez Canal on Thursday (3/25/2021) explained how difficult the evacuation process was.
As a result, Egypt temporarily closed a narrow waterway that became one of the busiest in the world.
Meanwhile, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said it was trying to evacuate the Panama-flagged ship Ever Given.
Also read: The Suez Canal is jammed, a large container ship obstructs the international trade route
The 400-meter-long ship veered off course due to a sandstorm, crashed into a canal wall and got stuck on Tuesday (3/23/2021).
Satellite photos released by Planet Labs Inc show that the giant container ship, 59 meters wide, was pinched diagonally and blocked access to the canal.
Japanese yacht charter company Shoei Kisen Kaisha said it had a boat called the “Mega Ship” that was having tremendous difficulties evacuating it.
“Working closely with the local authorities and Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, a ship management company, we are trying to get her back on track, but we are facing extreme difficulties.” Shoei Kisen Kaisha said on his website.
Also read: The Suez Canal is still stuck, many container ships are trapped, this is the future impact
“We sincerely apologize for causing great concern to the ships in the Suez Canal and those planning to cross the canal.”
Shipping experts warn that it can take days or even weeks before the ship moves.
So maritime sources say that AFP On Thursday (3/25/2021), new dredges were deployed to speed up the evacuation, while the convoy of ships from the north remained at anchor in the waiting area of the canal.
Also read: Congestion affects oil prices, how important is the Suez Canal for global shipping?
“We’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Ranjith Raja, Middle East oil and shipping researcher at international financial data firm Refinitiv.
“The traffic jam … is likely to take several days or weeks to resolve as it will affect another caravan.”
The ship’s manager, Singapore-based Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), said 25 of its crew were not injured and the hull and cargo were undamaged.
Also read: Suez Canal is stuck, Captain Ever Given blames the weather for the ship getting stuck
