The Ever Given, a container ship weighing more than 200,000 tons, is trapped in the Suez Canal, halting traffic on one of the world’s major waterways.
Authorities worked all Wednesday to dislodge the freighter, but it remains stuck as shipping traffic piles up on either side of the canal.
Once given towers above machines on land
In this photo, released by the Suez Canal Authority, on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, a cargo ship, called the Ever Given, sits with its bow in the wall after it turned sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal and blocked traffic in a crucial East-West waterway for worldwide shipping.
Suez Canal Authority | AP
In one image, the Ever Given is shrinking a piece of heavy machinery and two workers standing on one side of the canal. The bow of the ship touches the eastern wall of the canal.
Taiwan-based operator Evergreen Marine Corp. said in a statement that the Ever Given ran aground, propelled by high winds as it entered the Suez Canal from the Red Sea.
The trapped ship seen from space
Cropped satellite images taken on March 23, 2021 show the freight container ship Ever Given blocking Egypt’s Suez Canal.
Planet Labs
Satellite images show how difficult it is to scare the ship off the narrow waterway. The ever given is over 400 feet long and about 31 feet wide.
One of the tugs was deployed on the spot
In this photo, released by the Suez Canal Authority, a boat sails behind a huge freighter, called the Ever Given, is grounded Wednesday, March 24, 2021, after turning sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal and traffic in a crucial East-West waterway for worldwide shipping.
Suez Canal Authority | AP
A tugboat is seen passing by the ship as authorities attempted to start the rafting process, which can take days.
Local officials are discussing options
In this photo, released by the Suez Canal Authority, Lieutenant General Ossama Rabei, head of the Suez Canal Authority, second right, speaks with other personnel aboard a boat near the stuck freighter once given on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, after the got wedged between the Suez Canal in Egypt and blocked all traffic on the vital waterway.
Suez Canal Authority via AP
Suez Canal Authority officials speak to personnel on board a boat near the cargo ship filed.
The Suez Canal is a busy waterway
Container ship RDO Concord sails through the Suez Canal as Egypt celebrates the 150th anniversary of the opening of the canal in Ismailia, Egypt on November 17, 2019.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany | Reuters
More than 50 ships cross the Suez Canal every day, transporting everything from consumer products to machine parts to oil around the world.
The canal connects goods from far corners of the world
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, approaches the Mubarak Peace Bridge as it traverses the Suez Canal in Egypt, May 9, 2019. Photo taken May 9, 2019.
Then Snow | US Navy | Reuters
Construction of the artificial canal began in 1859. In 2014, the Egyptian government began a multi-billion dollar renovation. The expanded waterway opened in 2015.