©Maxar Technologies/AP
Updated 4:39 PM ET, Fri March 26, 2021
©Maxar Technologies/AP
A large container ship got stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal on Tuesday, March 23, halting marine traffic through one of the busiest waterways in the world.
The ship, a vessel named the Ever Given, ran aground after strong winds and a sandstorm caused low visibility and poor navigation, the Suez Canal Authority said in a statement. The ship was en route to the Dutch point of Rotterdam when it was knocked off course.
The Ever Given, at 400 meters (1,312 feet), is almost as long as the Empire State Building is tall.
The Suez Canal accounts for about 30% of global container ship traffic each day, according to the Reuters news agency. Experts worry that if the Ever Given isn’t freed soon, the logjam could impact the oil market, shipping and container rates, leading to a rise in the cost of everyday goods.