A giant boxship grounded in the Suez Canal on Tuesday, blocking all shipping traffic and creating a backlog of ships on one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
The Ever Given, a 400-meter (1,312-foot) container ship, was trapped sideways in the canal, with its bow wedged into one bank and its stern nearly to the other, according to ship operators and social media images.
Operated by Taiwan-based Evergreen Group, the vessel is one of the largest seagoing vessels. It can move more than 20,000 containers and is taller than the Empire State Building when turned upright.
“There are at least 100 ships waiting to pass between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean,” said a London broker. “Tugs are trying to float it again, but it won’t be easy.”
The Suez Canal Authority, which operates the canal, was not immediately available for comment. An Evergreen spokesperson said the ship was likely hit by high winds “causing the hull to deviate from the canal and jam.”