The Ever Given, a 200,000-ton ship carrying 20,000 containers, is stuck in the Suez Canal after high winds blew it off course on Tuesday.
The fallout has been immense, and continues to cascade the longer the ship remains stranded. Hundreds of tankers are now blocked. The queue is growing. The anticipated impact on markets resulted in a three per cent rise in the price of Brent crude.
There are few subtleties when it comes to the Suez Canal, arguably the world's most important waterway, handling roughly 12 per cent of all shipping trade. More than 6,000 vessels used the canal in 2020, making it one of the most reliable maritime trade routes. As a result, when things do go wrong, the results are felt all over the globe.
Every day that the waterway is blocked, over $9.5bn worth of shipping traffic comes to a halt
In 2019, the canal celebrated its 150th anniversary. Since its opening, it has been the focal point of commerce, great power rivalry, liberation movements, even war. It was conceived in the 19th century by French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps and Egypt's then ruling family, who envisioned a trade passage that would allow vessels to bypass a long East-West route around the tip of southern Africa. After a gradual British commercial takeover of the waterway, the leader of Egypt's 20th century independence movement, Gamal Abdel Nasser, seized it in 1956. It has since become one of the greatest symbols of the nation's post-colonial independence.
Despite its historical and contemporary significance, we hear relatively little about it nowadays. Before the Ever Given's blockage, the main development for the canal during the past several years was Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's decision to expand the waterway, at a cost of more than $8bn. The plight of the Ever Given suggests that that investment, viewed by many at the time as an extravagance, was prescient. The canal certainly requires more future-proofing, not less.
Shipping has had a difficult year. Covid-19 has caused widespread delays for a sector that is beholden to strict timetables. This has caused a disproportionate number of bankruptcies, often at the expense of crews onboard, some of whom are left stranded at sea for extended periods of time. With huge knock-on effects for the global economy compounding by the day, it is very obvious that a solution must come quickly.
Finding one is less obvious. Egyptian authorities have said it could take as long as a number of days to free the vessel. There is hope that higher tides over the coming week could end the crisis, and there are more draconian options available, such as removing containers to lighten the ship. But the more drastic the measure, the more time it will take.
The Ever Given's owners have said they are extremely sorry for the incident. Every day that the waterway is blocked, more than $9.5bn worth of shipping traffic comes to a halt. A solution cannot come soon enough.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
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Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
