The first ship from the northern convoy in the Suez Canal has started moving, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing source and witnesses. The canal was blocked after Panama-flagged vessel Ever Given, en route from Malaysia to the Netherlands stuck sideways, creating a giant traffic jam.
The Suez Canal Authority reportedly said that tug boats helped partially to refloat the container ship.
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), which is the technical manager of the Ever Given, noted that the crew is safe and no pollution was detected, confirming that it is working with authorities to refloat the vessel.
"There have been no reports of injuries, pollution or cargo damage and initial investigations rule out any mechanical or engine failure as a result of the grounding," BSM said. "BSM’s immediate concerns are to re-float the vessel safely and for marine traffic in the Suez Canal to resume".
About 12 percent of the world's trade passes through Suez Canal, with an average of more than 50 vessels crossing it daily. With the ship sideways, no traffic can pass through the canal, which is the only way to get from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.