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The dredgers have moved 27,000 cubic meters of sand to a depth of 18 meters and work will continue around the clock, depending on wind and tidal conditions, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said. Two more powerful tugs are expected to arrive on Monday.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ordered preparations for the possible removal of some of the 18.3,000 containers from the ship, SCA chief Osama Rabia said.
An SCA source said that no unloading operations on the ship will begin before Monday as rescue teams try to take advantage of the tide.
The 400-meter-long Ever Given jammed diagonally in the southern section of the canal on March 23, halting ship traffic on one of the busiest waterways in the world.
At least 369 ships are waiting to pass through the canal, including dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships, Rabia said.
Discounts could be offered to shippers affected by the lockdown, Rabia said, adding that he believes the investigation will show the channel was not responsible for the landed Ever Given, one of the world’s largest container ships.
Rescuers from SCA and a team from the Dutch firm Smit Salvage evaluated the amount of bollard shot they could use on the boat without risking damage, and whether it would be necessary to remove a load with a crane to put it back in the water.
However, two SCA sources told Reuters a mass of rock was found on the bow of the ship, hampering rescue efforts.
It is not yet clear from the dredging performed whether the ship is stuck in soft sand, dense sand or clay, which will determine how easily it can be released.
About 15% of the world’s shipping passes through the Suez Canal, which is Egypt’s main source of foreign exchange earnings. The current stop costs the channel between $ 14 million and $ 15 million a day.
Oil product tanker fees nearly doubled after the ship got stuck and the lockdown disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already grappling with COVID-19 restrictions.
If the lockdown is prolonged, carriers could decide to divert their cargo around the Cape of Good Hope, adding about two weeks to the journey and additional fuel costs.
