Updated: March 29, 2021—Ever Given has been refloated and is being inspected. Transits are expected to start later this evening. It is still unclear if any vessels will be prioritized for passage but the current backlog should be cleared within four days, according to Hapag-Loyd.
Original post: March 24, 2021—A mega ship, the MV Ever Given, ran aground on March 23, in the Suez Canal, and is blocking ship traffic. The over 20,000 TEU ship is stuck sideways towards the south end of the canal near Suez, Egypt, and is preventing ships from passing in either direction.
“The 199,489 GT ship was fifth in the northbound convoy. None of the vessels before it were affected, but the 15 behind it were detained at anchorages waiting for the Canal to be cleared. The southbound convoy was also blocked,” GAC reported.
They are still unsure how long it will take to get the MV Ever Given moving again. They have tried tugboats but ultimately it depends on how hard aground she is and how favorable the tides are. Delays are expected, as it could take days to get the ship afloat.