Exactly a year ago, on March 23, one of the largest container ships ever built, Ever Given, ran aground in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
The vessel blocked Egypt’s Suez Canal for six days, in an incident that made headlines across the world.
Though the blockage was quickly resolved, it remains an important event for some people, whose lives were immeasurably changed.
For Abdullah Abdel Gawad, 30, the driver of a now-famous excavator captured in one of the most-shared pictures from the incident, it was a chance to have his mundane yet demanding job seen and appreciated.
Dozens of social media accounts were set up in tribute, with one called Guy With The Digger At Suez Canal earning 55,000 followers.
“I was called to the site because I was the closest technician to the ship, so it was only by chance,” said Mr Abdel Gawad.
“The work itself wasn’t much different from other assignments I had done on the digger, in fact, some other jobs were more physically taxing for me. What was unique about it was that people cared so much. I honestly didn’t know how much was riding on the task at the time.”
He remembers working round the clock. During the little time he had to rest, he would catch up on sleep, so he was not aware of how famous his excavator had become until the ship was refloated.
“Someone like me, someone who comes from where I come from, is used to back-breaking labour. But what I was not used to was having that labour seen and appreciated,” said Mr Abdel Gawad.
“Having so many people understand how difficult it is and celebrate my efforts fills me with pride to this day. If I leave nothing else to my children, I will at least leave them that.”
After helping to free the Ever Given, Mr Abdel Gawad is now part of a team working on widening the section of the canal where the ship became stuck, as part of an expansion plan announced by authorities after the incident.
While Mr Abdel Gawad was part of the rescue operations on land, there were dozens of other workers on marine units that were working on tugging the 400-metre vessel out of its stuck position.
For Ahmed El Zoz, whose image also became a top trend on Egyptian social media channels in March last year, the Ever Given incident transformed his workplace and its operations.
“An incident of that size had never taken place in the canal. It wasn’t just a small ship that got stuck either, no one can really imagine the sheer size of the Ever Given,” Mr El Zoz told The National.
“The part of our training that pertains to ships running aground was mostly theoretical until last year when we got a chance to test it out. What we learnt was that a lot has to change.”
He said in addition to fine-tuning a long list of rescue procedures, teams are now being stationed at different, more strategic points on the canal. Better signalling systems are being used and communications have become much more effective than they used to be.
Mr El Zoz was born and raised in Ismailia and educated from his early teens at the canal authority’s training centre.
Mr Abdel Gawad, on the other hand, is employed by a private company commissioned by the SCA to carry out repairs on the waterway.
Mr El Zoz says that for him and his fellow SCA co-workers, the Ever Given incident was a test of their unity as a team and how much humans can accomplish when they co-operate to such a degree.
“There is a saying in Ismailia, that the whole city is a one-bedroom apartment,” said Mr El Zoz, “Down here most people work for the canal authority. It's a great career that many would kill for.”
He said he is personally connected, away from work, with all of his colleagues. He said this communal harmony is the reason it took the rescue teams only six days to refloat the Ever Given, a fact that is still celebrated by many Egyptians today.
“How else can you explain the fact that it took us under a week and it’s taking American rescue workers longer to refloat its sister vessel?” said Mr El Zoz emphatically.
But despite being proud of their involvement in the rescue, both men told The National that their day-to-day lives are largely the same now as they were before the incident. Others involved in the affair witnessed more drastic changes.
As she reflects back on the past year, Egypt’s first female ship captain Marwa El Selehdar remembers being shocked by the misogyny of the maritime sector in Egypt when the Ever Given ran aground.
“When I heard news of the incident, it was at the same time that I became aware of a rumour that I was captaining the ship and so was somehow responsible for what happened,” said Ms El Selehdar, who was in Alexandria on board a commercial vessel at the time. She had just been promoted to first mate and had been subjected to sexism from men in her field.
Doctored images of Ms El Selehdar created by a popular Arab news website were spread online, alleging that she was the captain on board the Ever Given at the time it ran aground.
Ms El Selehdar had faced adversity all her life because of her desire to follow a career in the maritime sector, a notoriously male-dominated field, so she brushed off the negative comments she received at the time. She has even joked that the attention made her more famous.
She has since moved to Dubai, where she works as a marine operations manager for shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd.
She said the Ever Given incident gave a lot of Egyptians a chance to see how important the Suez Canal is to global trade. It made many of them proud that their country could have such an impact on the global landscape.
"I think the most important thing to take away from the Ever Given is that when people co-operate to solve crisis, it is a beautiful thing," she said.
Jetour T1 specs
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The specs
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Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Quick%20facts
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Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
GROUP RESULTS
Group A
Results
Ireland beat UAE by 226 runs
West Indies beat Netherlands by 54 runs
Group B
Results
Zimbabwe tied with Scotland
Nepal beat Hong Kong by five wickets
The%20specs
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
The%20specs
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Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Read more about the coronavirus
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
TYPES%20OF%20ONLINE%20GIG%20WORK
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BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
