Suez Canal Is Blocked by Container Ship Causing Huge Traffic Jam

The Ever Given is run aground in the Suez Canal, leading to a traffic jam for the ages and significant headaches for the global supply chain.

The Ever Given towers over a backhoe trying to dislodge it from the bank of the Suez Canal. (Credit: AP/Suez Canal Authority.)

The Ever Given towers over a backhoe trying to dislodge it from the bank of the Suez Canal. (Credit: AP/Suez Canal Authority.)

The morning or afternoon traffic jam on our commute to the office or to drop the kids off at school is certainly a nuisance, but unless there’s something seriously out of whack, it will be over in a half hour and we’ll be on our way for the rest of the day. Whatever traffic the average person must deal with might seem like a huge inconvenience, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s entirely manageable and becomes routine after a certain point. What’s currently going on in the Suez Canal … well, that’s a traffic jam of a completely different magnitude.

The Suez Canal—and subsequently global shipping networks—are currently dealing with a multiday delay because the 1,312-foot Ever Given is lodged sideways in the middle of the waterway. The ship, which is taller than the Empire State Building and nearly 200 feet wide, became stuck after strong winds pushed it aground as it was entering the canal. The situation has been made worse by the fact that the ship is blocking a section of the canal that only has one shipping lane—effectively closing off all traffic through the canal. Over 40 oil and gas tankers are going nowhere fast, which is problematic as global commodity prices are rising sharply.

Canal operators are at a loss with how to handle the stuck ship, which weighs more than 200,000 tons. One end of the ship is lodged against the bank of the canal, while the opposite end is nearly in contact with the shoreline. Incidents of this magnitude in the Suez Canal are rare. A tanker was stuck back in 2004 and was dislodged after three days. Most recently, a ship ran aground in 2016 and was pulled out within a few hours. The Ever Given situation could drag on much longer than either of these incidents.

The Ever Given blocks the Suez Canal, snarling global shipping networks. (Credit: AP/Suez Canal Authority.)

The Ever Given blocks the Suez Canal, snarling global shipping networks. (Credit: AP/Suez Canal Authority.)

Over 100 ships are currently stuck in the canal while waiting for the Ever Given to clear. At a time when global shipping networks are already stretched exceedingly thin by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and other logistical challenges. Even before this current situation in the Suez, it had not been uncommon for goods and materials to spend weeks at sea or in port due to shipping delays.

The Suez Canal Authority is working around the clock to get the Ever Given refloated and moved to the side of the canal so that the ships stuck behind it can begin moving again. This is still an extremely challenging operation and maneuver due to the sheer size of the ship. It towers over the tugboats and heavy machinery required to get it moving again.

If the ship cannot be moved, it will have to be unloaded to lighten its load, an operation that could drag on for weeks. The impact to the global economy could surge past several billion dollars. If the ship and canal cannot be cleared quickly, the Egyptian economy could also take a significant hit, as the country banked over $5.6 billion in revenue from the Suez Canal last year. The current closure is bleeding millions of dollars per hour. Now, the global economy waits to see if the ship that can be seen from outer space can be cleared quickly enough to avoid even more impact to the supply chain.