Global supply chains already strained by the disruption caused by the pandemic have been further challenged recently by the blockage of the Suez Canal, an artery that carries 30% of the world’s container cargo each year. Happily, the Canal is now functioning normally again, but a reported 300 ships have been delayed awaiting transit, many others were re-routed via the longer passage around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

In its advisory capacity as a mitigator of risk and loss in the supply chain TT Club is warning of the consequences of these recent events. Mike Yarwood, TT’s Managing Director, Loss Prevention commented: “Beyond the delay to cargo on board those ships affected, there will inevitably be a knock-on impact for those involved in discharging the containers at destination ports when they finally arrive, as well as the final mile delivery carriers. While the immediate impact may be a lack of cargo arriving when expected, presenting market supply challenges, it is when the cargo does start to turn-up that further potential risks emerge.”

Yarwood further stressed: “The risk of theft at ports and freight depots in this scenario is heightened and a greater focus on security is required. Whether it simply be at an overspill holding or storage area, or temporary warehousing, wherever and whenever cargo is not moving, it is more likely to be stolen. Those active in the supply chain should be mindful of these security risks. Due diligence, undertaken to ensure that any third party provider of storage is adequately resourced to meet these demands, is a prudent step to take in these circumstances.”

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It is also looking into procuring cranes that could potentially offload cargo at heights of up to 52 meters, Osama Rabie told Reuters in an interview. “Our procedures are sound, we are just aiming to improve the service,” he said.

The 400-metre-long (1,310 ft) Ever Given became grounded diagonally across the southern section of the canal during high winds on March 23. It remained stuck for six days, preventing hundreds of ships from passing and significantly impacting global trade flows.

After it was dislodged, the ship was taken to a lake that separates two sections of the canal where the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has been conducting investigations. Rabie said data from the ship’s recorders had been removed and handed over to an investigation committee, and that the ship would travel on once the procedures were completed.“We are talking about two or three more days, God willing. But we won’t take much time,” he said.

The SCA has said that it will continue to take ships of the Ever Given’s size and is reinforcing its ability to deal with future problems.“We will try to get two more tug boats, with pulling power of more than 200 tonnes – 250, 280, depending,” Rabie said.
Source: Reuters 

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A huge container ship blocking Egypt’s Suez Canal for nearly a week has been partially refloated, raising hopes that the busy waterway will soon be reopened for a big backlog of ships.

The 400-metre (430-yard) long Ever Given became jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal in high winds early last Tuesday, halting traffic on the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.

Marine traffic through the canal will restart once the ship is directed to the lakes area – a wider section of the canal, the SCA said.

At least 369 vessels were waiting to transit the canal, including dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels.

Source: indianexpress.com

#evergiven ship floated successfully in #suezcanal pic.twitter.com/lCvc67v9KZ

— Capt. Yousif (@CaptJoo2023) March 29, 2021

#BREAKING: Stranded Ever Given vessel in the Suez Canal was successfully refloated, no official confirmation yet.#Egypt #Suez #SuezCanal #EVERGIVEN #Evergreen #BreakingNews #SuezCrisis #SuezBLOCKED | #السفينة_الجائحة #عاجلpic.twitter.com/HxFAW2LUzw

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 29, 2021

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The Ultra Large Container Ship (ULCS) #EVERGIVEN showing her bow firmly aground on the east Bank of the #Suezcanal and blocking about 10% of the world’s trade. pic.twitter.com/obDpU8w3ed

— Sal Mercogliano (@mercoglianos) March 24, 2021

Since Tuesday, the passage between Asia and Europe has been blocked by the Ever Given, a container ship adrift. Operations are still underway to dislodge it.

A gust of wind and a whole section of the world’s maritime trade is at a standstill. Since Tuesday, at around 6am local time, the traditional passage of liners in the Suez Canal has come to an end. In the middle of this passage of more than 190 kilometres which cuts Egypt in two, constantly enlarged since its opening in 1869, a huge container ship blocks the passage.

According to the Taiwanese company Evergreen Marine Corp. contacted by AFP, a gust of wind accidentally caused the Ever Given, a 220,000-ton, 400-metre-long ship flying the Panamanian flag, to veer off course. The giant of the seas was trying to reach Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, from Asia, according to the Vessel Finder website. The vessel alone took up the entire width of the canal, and despite several hours of operations, it was impossible to dislodge it.

The Suez Canal has undergone continuous expansion since it was first opened between 1859 and 1869, with the most recent extension in 2015. In 2020, more than 10% of the world’s maritime trade passed through it. Every year, 19,000 ships pass through, about 50 a day. The equivalent of $100 million (€85 million) worth of oil passes through the port every day, and despite the incident, oil prices have remained fairly stable so far.

While waiting for the tugs to manage to move Ever Given, and while the operation could take several days, the Egyptian authorities explained that they had reopened the historic passage, which was used in the past, in both directions. If the canal were to remain closed, ships would be forced to bypass Africa to reach Europe, which would double the journey time, adding another ten days to the journey.

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Suez Canal blocked by stranded Evergreen Containership. pic.twitter.com/wlJcX5waFf

— Martin Lukale (@LukaleMartin) March 24, 2021

The Suez Canal, one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, is reportedly blocked because someone accidentally got stuck with their giant container ship. The photo is unreal. pic.twitter.com/I2ACkBqPi2

— Marcel Dirsus (@marceldirsus) March 23, 2021

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