A big event unfolding in the Middle East may only be adding to the woes of shipping lines battling the affects of the covid pandemic, that on the other hand has caused shipping freight rates to soar and impact positively on some lines balance sheets. The 2018 built and 20,388TEU containership Ever Given has blocked the Suez Canal in both directions at the southern end after running in to the canal bank. Reportedly buffeted by 50 km winds, tracking imagery of her voyage shows the vessel swerving a little before impact that may have caused her to touch bottom and lead her bow to swing into the canal bank, locking the vessel in a broadside position across the canal. Reports are also suggesting the 400 meter vessel may have had a blackout.
It is now more than 12 hours since the vessel became stuck and the seriousness of the situation is growing as the initial 15 vessels caught up have bene joined by many others leaving Europe, or trying to get to Europe via the Egyptian waterway. A fortunate vessel was the COSCO Shipping Galaxy ahead of the stricken vessel in the convoy, while unfortunate is the American flagged 6,180 TEU Maerk Denver that was following and is now trapped reminiscent of the "Bitter Lakes Group" during the 1967 Egypt/Israel conflict. Several tugs are at the scene and have started trying to move the vessel, backed up by a front-end loader on the canal bank. It appears the clearance operation will take a number of days and necessitate digging out a portion of the canal wall. Ever Given is actually owned by Japanese shipowner Shoei Kisen KK, part of the Imabari Group that also owns the Koyo Dockyard in Mihara who built the vessel, and one report has Evergreen calling for the owner "report the cause of the accident".