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Last updated on March 29th, 2021 at 04:57 am
Update 14 (29 March / 0400 GMT): Great efforts from Suez Canal Authority continues with 10 tugs including ALP GUARD in coordination with SMIT are currently stationed on four different directions to tow M/V EVER GIVEN in the Suez Canal
Update 13 (29 March / 0230 GMT): The MV Ever Given was successfully re-floated at 04:30 lt 29/03/2021. She is being secured at the moment. More information about next steps will follow once they are known.
Update 12 (28 March / 1430 GMT): Scheduled towing operation has been postponed from 1600 (GMT+2) to 2200 (GMT+2) utilising favorable tidal conditions. SCA dredgers continue their great efforts around the clock. SCA dredger Mashour has successfully removed more than 27 thousand cubic meters of sand.
Update 11 (28 March / 1030 GMT): After having worked tirelessly throughout the night, SCA are now planning another re-floating attempt today, Sunday afternoon around 1600hrs LT (GMT+2).
Update 10 (27 March / 1630 GMT): 14 tugs working to refloat the vessel. Today’s expected tidal conditions are favorable for the operation. Once refloated, SCA expect to clear transit backlog within 1-2 days. Currently 321 vessels are awaiting transit.
Update 9 (26 March / 2300 GMT): Egyptian media outlets indicate the skillful and dedicated efforts from Suez Canal Authority’s salvage team succeeded to release EVER GIVEN’s propeller and rudder. They also indicate that vessel has partly moved. 10 tugs are currently assigned to the area.
Update 8 (26 March / 1800 GMT): SMIT Salvage’s crew confirms that additional two tugs will arrive on Sunday 28th to assist.
Update 7 (26 March / 0900 GMT): Apart from tugs, two Suez Canal authority dredgers have been working with great efforts throughout the night. M/V EVER GIVEN is still grounded in the Suez Canal. The number of vessels delayed due to the Suez canal blockage have increased from 150 to 237.
Big Development: The SMIT Salvage, a legendary Dutch firm, known for the most daring naval salvages, including lifting a sunken Russian nuclear submarine in 2001, and removing fuel from inside the Costa Concordia cruise ship after it ran aground in Italy in 2012 has been called in by the owners of the ship EVER GIVEN to dislodge the ship currently blocking Suez Canal.
Update 6 (25 March / 0930 GMT): Tugs and dredgers continuously attempt to re-float the grounded vessel in the Suez Canal. The floatation efforts included towing and pushing the grounding vessel using 8 large tugboats; largest of which is BARAKA 1 with a towing power of 160 tons. M/V ASIA RUBY III and M/V YM FOUNTAIN are now at Suez Anchorage, while M/V MAERSK DENVER is yet to be escorted out.
Update 5 (24 March / 2130 GMT): M/V EVER GIVEN, no. 5 in the 23rd of March NB convoy remains grounded in the Suez Canal. Vessel no. 6, 7 & 8 will be assisted by tugs back to Suez anchorage area, clearing space for M/V EVER GIVEN to be towed out the same way as she entered once re-floated.
Update 4 (24 March / 1800 GMT): Dredger 10th of Ramadan is now alongside M/V EVER GIVEN in the Suez Canal and dredger Mashor is expected to be alongside at any moment. In addition to tugs and dredgers a diving team has been assigned to the operation.
Update 3 (24 March / 1450 GMT): two dredgers are expected to commence their efforts tonight around 2000 (GMT +2). As per 1650 (GMT+2) vessel is still blocking the Suez Canal and traffic is suspended.
Update 2 (24 March / 1300 GMT): Latest news indicate that vessel is still located at same position and the Suez Canal traffic is continuously suspended. Tide may be of the essence in aiding the operation carried out by the tugs and the grounded vessel.
Update 1 (24 March / 1100 GMT): Latest news indicate that the tug and dredging assistance are improving the situation for M/V EVER GIVEN. However, nothing confirmed as of now, when the traffic in the Suez Canal can resume. Space restrictions caused by the grounded vessel, may not allow traffic to pass.
—————————–Original Report—————————–
Egypt’s Suez Canal has been blocked by an ultra large container ship, Ever Given that ran aground after losing control, blocking traffic on both sides.
As much as 7 tugs were working to free the 400 meter long, 58.8 meter wide ship, but there are fears it could remain trapped for days, bringing marine traffic to a halt along one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
The incident occurred just north of the port of Suez early on Tuesday. A photo posted on Instagram showed the Taiwan shipping giant Evergreen’s ship lodged sideways and impeding all traffic across the waterway as excavation trucks struggled to dig it out.
The 2018 built Ever Given, registered in Panama, was bound for the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands from China and was transiting the canal on its way to the Mediterranean. It became trapped at about 07:40 local time (05:40 GMT) on Tuesday.
Instagram user Julianne Cona posted a photo of the grounded ship from the Maersk Denver, now also stuck behind the Ever Given.
“Ship in front of us ran aground while going through the canal and is now stuck sideways,” she wrote. “Looks like we might be here for a little bit.”
Tug boats are currently trying to re-float the vessel,” Leth Agencies, which provides crossing services to clients using the canal, said on Twitter.
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