Trapped container ship blocks navigation in Egypt's Suez Canal




The canal provides the shortest link from Asia to Europe.


CAIRO -- A large container ship ran aground in Egypt's Suez Canal early on Tuesday, blocking navigation in the vital waterway for more than 24 hours, officials have said.


Ever Given, a 224,000-ton ship registered in Panama that is 400 meters long and 59 meters wide, was on its way from China to the Dutch port city of Rotterdam when it was stuck near the southern end of the 193-km-long Suez Canal.


"The accident is mainly due to the lack of visibility resulting from bad weather conditions as the country passes through a dust storm, with wind speed reaching 40 knots," Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie said in a statement. pg slot