Energy News Beat Publishers Note: With over 130,000 animals’ lives at risk, this is now a matter for PETA. They can rally the world’s resources and get the ship refloated. Just kidding, it is a serious issue with far-reaching consequences. In the words of Scobby Doo – “Rhu Rho”
Egypt’s Suez Canal chief said Saturday that “technical or human errors” could be behind the grounding of a huge container ship blocking the vital waterway, causing a backlog of over 300 vessels.
Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority, told reporters that the ship could be afloat again by Sunday night.
The crisis has crippled global supply chains, forcing cargo firms to choose between waiting or the expensive option of rerouting vessels around the southern tip of Africa.
Officials had previously blamed 40-knot gusts and a sandstorm for the accident.
But Rabie said Saturday that “strong winds and weather factors” were not solely responsible, saying there “may have been technical or human errors”.
Asked when the vessel might be freed, he sounded an optimistic note.
“We could finish today or tomorrow (Sunday), depending on the ship’s responsiveness” to tides, he said.
Over 320 ships carrying billions of dollars-worth of cargo re now stalled at either end of the vital shipping lane linking Asia to Europe.
The 193-kilometre (120-mile) long canal from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean is vital for shipping between Asia and Europe, the alternative route around the Cape of Good Hope costing an additional 12 days at sea.
In one sign of the knock-on effects, Syrian authorities said Saturday they had been forced to ration already scarce fuel supplies.
The Suez suspension “has impacted oil imports to Syria and slowed arrival of a ship carrying fuel and oil products” from government ally Iran, Syria’s oil ministry said.
And Romania’s animal health agency said Saturday that 11 ships carrying livestock out of the country were affected by the blockage. NGO Animals International warned of a potential “tragedy” affecting some 130,000 animals.
As efforts mount to free the Ever Given, salvage teams are hoping to take advantage of a spring high tide due to start Sunday night.
Plamen Natzkoff, an expert at VesselsValue, said teams would likely step up their efforts in the coming days to make the most of that opportunity.
“If they don’t manage to dislodge it during that high tide, the next high tide is not there for another couple of weeks, and that becomes problematic,” he said.
“The stakes are too high for it to take months.”
Source and the entire story: ET
