The 'Ever Given' container ship blocked the Suez Canal for six days. Reuters
The 'Ever Given' container ship blocked the Suez Canal for six days. Reuters
The ship became grounded during high winds. Airbus Space
The ship became grounded during high winds. Airbus Space
The incident cost the Suez Canal Authority up to $15 million in revenue. Airbus Space
The incident cost the Suez Canal Authority up to $15 million in revenue. Airbus Space
Left, the canal on March 21; right, traffic waits to enter the canal on March 25. Reuters
Left, the canal on March 21; right, traffic waits to enter the canal on March 25. Reuters
Vessels wait to pass through the canal after the 'Ever Given' ran aground. Airbus Space
Vessels wait to pass through the canal after the 'Ever Given' ran aground. Airbus Space
The incident caused a queue of vessels at the mouth of the canal. Airbus Space
The incident caused a queue of vessels at the mouth of the canal. Airbus Space
It took six days to free the 'Ever Given'. Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation
It took six days to free the 'Ever Given'. Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation
An image captured by the European Space Agency Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite shows the canal during the blockage. Reuters
An image captured by the European Space Agency Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite shows the canal during the blockage. Reuters
The 200,000-tonne cargo ship caused damage to the vital waterway. Reuters
The 200,000-tonne cargo ship caused damage to the vital waterway. Reuters
Egypt initially claimed $900m in compensation over the incident. Reuters
Egypt initially claimed $900m in compensation over the incident. Reuters
An image captured from a commercial plane shows traffic waiting to travel through the canal. AFP
An image captured from a commercial plane shows traffic waiting to travel through the canal. AFP
The 'Ever Given' will be released by the Egyptian authorities on Wednesday. AFP
The 'Ever Given' will be released by the Egyptian authorities on Wednesday. AFP
The 'Ever given' was stuck for six days and caused damage to the canal. AFP
The 'Ever given' was stuck for six days and caused damage to the canal. AFP
The blockage cost the canal authority millions of dollars because cargo ships were unable to pass. AFP
The blockage cost the canal authority millions of dollars because cargo ships were unable to pass. AFP

Egypt

Suez Canal crisis from space: see shipping backlog in satellite images

Over 300 ships are now backed up behind the stuck 'Ever Given' container ship

The National

March 28, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority on Saturday evening said that 321 ships are now waiting to pass through the vital trade route, which was blocked on Tuesday by a massive container ship wedged diagonally across the waterway.

The blockage has halted upward of $400m of trade an hour as international salvage crews and US military experts join the effort to refloat the Ever Given, a 400-metre long, 200,000-tonne vessel that became stuck shortly after entering the canal.

New video shot by a satellite shows tugboats trying to free the giant cargo ship.

"The Suez canal traffic jam is visible from space," Airbus Space, a space technology company, said on Twitter, after posting satellite imagery.

Tugs managed to shift the stricken vessel 29 meters on Saturday and dredgers succeeded earlier in freeing the propellers from the sediment that has glued the vessel to the canal's banks.

Satellite images shows the Gulf of Suez on March 21, left, and the same area with a build-up of waiting ships on March 25. ESA via Reuters.
Satellite images shows the Gulf of Suez on March 21, left, and the same area with a build-up of waiting ships on March 25. ESA via Reuters.

The video, shot by Planet Labs Inc, captured the work around the Ever Given, including dredgers, tugboats and digging efforts alongside the canal.

The European Space Agency on Friday also released space images of the traffic jam of ships waiting to pass through the Suez.

Two Suez pilots were on the ship at the time it ran aground and officials have blamed strong winds and a sandstorm.

However, Admiral Oussama Rabieh, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said that technical or human error could have contributed.

“When it comes to big accidents like this one, there is always more than one cause. The investigation could reveal a human error or a technical fault,” he said on Saturday.

No formal investigation into how the accident occurred will begin before the ship is refloated and traffic returns to normal, he said.

At a press conference in Japan on Friday, Yukito Higaki, president of Shoei Kisen, which owns the Ever Given, said there were no signs of damage to its engines and instruments.

Additional reporting by Sarwat Nasir

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
UAE currency
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Price: On request

On Women's Day
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush

Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”

A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.

“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”

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Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
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  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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