Wedged sideways in the Suez Canal, cutting off Europe from Asia, the stranded Ever Given container ship created a global traffic jam visible from space.
Around 12 per cent of global trade passes through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It provides the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe, saving vessels around 10 days and eliminating the need to sail around the treacherous Cape of Good Hope at the southernmost tip of Africa.
The 400-metre Ever Given container ship, almost as long as the Empire State Building, is one of the world’s largest ocean vessels. It ran aground in the canal amid high winds of up to 40 knots and a sandstorm which limited visibility. Completely blocking traffic in each direction, the stranded container ship brought shipping to a halt as vessels backed up for miles in either direction.
As tug boats, dredgers and diggers struggled to free the 200,000 tonne vessel, Sentinel-1 satellite imagery reveals the growing chaos. As the delay dragged on, more than 100 vessels can be seen amassing in the Red Sea — creating a major backlog which will ensure delays continue even after the Ever Given continues on its way.
A similar number of vessels are waiting in the Mediterranean, along with those trapped in the canal including its midway point in the Great Bitter Lake. Other vessels have opted to take the long way around the Cape of Good Hope rather than wait.
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Sharper 40-cm resolution images are clear enough to reveal the containers on the deck, along with the flurry of activity attempting to free the stranded cargo ship.
One of the world’s busiest shipping arteries, more than 19,000 vessels pass through the Suez Canal each year. The blockage is holding up an estimated US$9.6 billion of goods each day, or $400 million every hour, according to data from Lloyd’s List.
The incident has disrupted global supply chains already stretched by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Syria forced imposed fuel rationing to safeguard dwindling oil supplies as it waits for the canal to reopen.
Editor’s Note: As of the early morning of March 30, 2021, the Ever Given had been dislodged and freed. However, the traffic buildup still remains.
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