Navigation at Suez Canal resumes as Ever Given freed

Experts are investigating what caused the mega-ship to run aground.

JOHANNESBURG, March 30 (ANA) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is set to visit the Suez Canal in the city of Ismailia on Tuesday, a day after the successful re-floating of the Ever Given container ship and resumption of navigation, according to Sputnik.

The news outlet reported that Al-Sisi’s spokesperson revealed in a statement that he would be inspecting the area.

The president announced the success of the mission via social media on Monday.

“Today, the Egyptians have succeeded in ending the crisis of the delinquent ship in the Suez Canal despite the enormous technical complexity that surrounded this process from every side. And by restoring matters to their normal course, with Egyptian hands, the whole world can be assured of the path of its goods and needs that are passed by this axial navigational artery,” he said via Twitter.

On March 23, the Suez Canal was blocked by the 224,000-ton, 400-metre-long mega-ship Ever Given, which was destined for the Netherland from China when it ran aground amid high winds and a sandstorm that affected visibility.

On Monday morning, Suez Canal Authority chairperson Osama Rabie said that the Ever Given had been turned 80% in the right direction.

Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday that experts were investigating what caused the Ever Given’s grounding, which damaged the global shipping industry.

Since the mega-ship was dislodged, more than 100 ships had passed through the channel by Tuesday morning, according to Reuters.

According to CGTN, the blockage cost global trade almost US$10 billion a day.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher