Recently released satellite images of the maritime jam on both sides of the temporarily closed Suez Canal show more than 50 vessels anchored at both its ends. The ships and their owners face a tough dilemma: whether to wait for the successful release of Ever Given, the tanker blocking the waterway, or take a detour lasting 14 days around the entire African continent.
The Suez Canal authorities haven't made the choice any easier by remaining silent on how long it will take before the canal is reopened. At the same time, the owner of the Ever Given, Shoei Kisen, gave an optimistic prognosis that the trouble-making ship will shortly be released from captivity.
Some companies, namely Hyundai Merchant Marine, have already rerouted their tankers to take the longer - but possibly faster - route, and others in Singapore and Tokyo are still considering the opportunity. However, several dozen other ships seem not to have given up hope that the Ever Given will be released swiftly from its present predicament which it got into when a sandstorm blew it off course as it was navigating the canal.
However, these ships who believe their patience will be rewarded have already raised concerns about their security - especially those anchored on the eastern side of the African continent, which is notorious for piracy. The US Navy's Fifth Fleet said that some vessels have already reached out to them in the light of these security concerns. On the other hand, Zhao Qing-feng, office manager of the China Shipowners’ Association, pointed out the The Financial Times that ships sailing around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, have just as pressing security concerns on their long, turbulent journey.
The need for extra security only increases the costs of the accident for the transport companies. Around $3 billion of goods goes through the Suez Canal every day and the present jam is estimated to cost roughly $400 million an hour to global trade, according to economists' estimates.