As efforts to free the cargo ship stuck in the Suez Canal seem to be making little headway, shipping companies are considering making a detour around South Africa instead.
The prolonged gridlock is already costing shipping companies enormous financial losses.
CORRECTS NAME OF SHIP TO EVER GIVEN, NOT EVER GREEN – In this photo released by the Suez Canal Authority, a boat navigates in front of a cargo ship, Ever Given, Wednesday, March 24, 2021, after it become wedged across Egypt’s Suez Canal and blocked all traffic in the vital waterway. An Egyptian official warned Wednesday it could take at least two days to clear the ship. (Suez Canal Authority via AP)
A massive cargo ship stuck in Suez Canal has caused disruption in one of the world’s busiest waterways.
With no signs of the ship budging for a third straight day, shipping companies are considering navigating around Africa to avoid the gridlock.
In a statement, Danish shipping giant Maersk said it is looking into possible alternatives, including going around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
But, it stressed that nothing has been decided and a decision will be made depending on how long the canal remains jammed.
The German container line Hapag-Lloyd also said it was closely assessing the implications on its services and is looking into possible diversions around the same route.
While rerouting around Africa significantly increases the trip’s length, which would add extra costs, carrier and vessel companies appear to believe that a prolonged bottleneck in the canal will further delay ship schedules and supplies of goods.
On Tuesday, the ship ‘Ever Given’ was grounded amid high winds, blocking transit in both directions of the canal in which connects Europe and Asia.
Currently, efforts are underway to refloat the cargo ship.
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