Suez crisis

Traffic blocked as 200,000-tonne ship stuck in canal

ONE of the world’s largest cargo ships has sparked chaos by blocking Egypt’s Suez Canal.

Shipping through the crucial trade link between Asia and Europe was partially halted after the 400m-long vessel became wedged on either side.

It is believed the Panamaregistered MV Ever Given was blown off course by high winds on Tuesday.

Crude oil prices rose by 5.77% after tug boats tried to free the 200,000tonne ship and the canal’s older channel was reopened to traffic.

Maritime historian Dr Sal Mercogliano said the incident was rare but warned it could have “huge ramifications for global trade”.

He added: “Every day the canal is closed, container ships and tankers are not delivering food, fuel and manufactured goods to Europe and goods are not being exported from Europe to the Far East.”

The 120-mile Suez Canal carries around 12% of the world’s trade and about 30% of all container ships. Pictures show the bow of the Ever Given touching the canal’s eastern bank, with its stern lodged against its western side.

Reports yesterday suggested the vessel had been partially refloated.

Evergreen Marine Corp, the Taiwanese firm that operates the vessel, said it was overcome by gusts but none of its containers had sunk after a sandstorm had hit the area.

There were no reports of pollution or injuries on the Netherlands-bound Ever Green, which ran aground 3.7 miles north of the southerly mouth of the canal near the city of Suez.

Head of Business HULL OF A TIME Bow of the 400m-long ship that became lodged sideways ON THE PULL MV Ever Green is surrounded by tug boats that tried to free the vessel CARGO NO GO Giant ship lies wedged in Suez