532 ships crossed Suez Canal since release of grounded Ever Given vessel: SCA

CAIRO – 5 April 2021: Head of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie said 532 ships have crossed the canal since the giant Ever Given ship that had blocked the canal for six days was refloated on 29 March.

In remarks to Al-Qahera Wal Nas, Rabie said 90 ships have been passing through the Suez Canal per day since then.

The 400-meter long Ever Given was successfully released after it has blocked hundreds of ships from crossing the narrow waterway. Around 12% of global trade passes through the Suez Canal.

The traffic jam that was caused by the stranding of the Panama-flagged vessel ended on Saturday, announced Rabie in a statement, saying that the navigational movement in the canal became normal.

The total of 422 ships that were stranded and waiting for crossing the canal after the Ever Given ship went aground successfully crossed.

“The success of the authority in crossing such a number of ships with such huge loads in record time considers a new achievement that adds to the authority's ability to manage emergency situations and deal with crises,” he said.