São Paulo – The ship that had blocked the Suez Canal for the past seven days, clogging up one of the world’s key trade arteries, was refloated on Monday, 29, as the result of maneuvers clearing the waterway. The canal is located in Egypt, an North African Arab country, and is the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. A strong noon tide helped a fleet of tugboats wrench free the vessel.
Upon the restoration of the ship’s direction, it was directed to the Bitter Lakes waiting area for technical inspection. Earlier on Monday, a team had succeeded in partially freeing the ship as the result of successful push and tow maneuvers, admiral Osama Rabie, chairman and managing director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), announced. This led to the restoration of 80% of the vessel’s direction away from the bank. Maneuvers were set to be resumed once more during high tide, allowing for the full restoration of the vessel’s direction.
The vessel is a Panamanian container ship. Rabie had reassured the international navigation society as navigation would be resumed immediately upon the complete restoration of the vessel’s direction. Even with the vessel released, it will be three days before other ships can sail through the canal. The stranded ship had completely blocked the waterway.
Rabie has also commended the efforts of the SCA workers who achieved this “heroic feat” saying that they have done their patriotic duty impeccably.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
