Suez blockage continues with extra rescue tugs en route

The container ship Ever Given, which run aground in the Suez Canal on 23 March, continues to be stranded there despite multiple attempts to re-float the vessel over the past days.

BSM, the ship's technical management company, said late on 27 March that re-floating attempts are continuing after "significant progress was made" the prior night, when the vessel's rudder was released from sediment at the stern of the ship. However, the ship remains in place and continues to block the critical waterway.

Two additional tugs, each with towing power (bollard pull) of 220-240t, have been dispatched are scheduled to arrive at the location of the incident later today to help with the re-floating attempts, according to BSM.

The Netherlands-flagged ALP Guard is currently in the Red Sea, about 80km from Egypt's Hurghada, according to vessel tracker FleetMon, while the Italy-flagged Carlo Magno is now around 60km off Egypt's Safaga port. Both are expected to arrive at the location before 18:00 local time.

These tugs will join eleven others that have been working alongside the ongoing dredging operations which continue to remove sand and mud from around the port side of the vessel's bow.

At the time of the incident on 23 March, the Ever Given was transiting northbound through the canal en route to Rotterdam, Netherlands. Initial investigations suggest the vessel grounded due to strong wind.

The Suez Canal is a vital artery between east and west, and the risk of disruption to shipping markets increases the longer that it remains blocked. As of now, there is still little clarity on how long that will be.

By Ieva Paldaviciute