Suez Canal blocked after a 400m long container ship jammed against both sides of the waterway

Source: Instagram

EGYPT’S SUEZ CHANNEL is currently blocked from all vessels after a mega container ship traveling to the Netherlands turned sideways within the waterway earlier today.

The 400-meter-long Ever Given freighter, flying under the Panamanian flag, ran aground and veered inside the canal as it traveled north toward the Mediterranean Sea.

The canal, built in 1869 to connect the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, is the shortest sea route from Europe to Asia.

It has been blocked in both directions for several hours despite attempts by several Egyptian ships to free the ship, which is en route from Yantian China to Rotterdam.

The Vessel Finder shipment tracking website shows Ever Given wedged between both sides of the canal, surrounded by smaller Egyptian ships.

Source: Vesselfinder

Several ships can also be seen waiting within the canal and queuing in the Red Sea to the south, with dozens of others waiting at points within the canal and in the Mediterranean to the north.

An image posted on social media shows the ship trapped in the canal with other vessels that cannot pass it from either side.

It is currently unknown how long it will take to free the ship and clear the channel.