It’s not the wind? New information about the accident in the Suez Canal

There are doubts about the previous version explaining why the giant container ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal. So far, the shipowner has informed that the reason was a sandstorm and a sudden gust of wind. At the same time, it was stated that the wind speed in the area of ​​the canal on Tuesday did not exceed 70 km / h. Now the channel management announces that it was probably not the wind that was the main cause of the accident.

On both sides of the canal it already stands over 320 ships. They are waiting for it to be removed the huge Ever Given container shipwhich buried its bow and stern into the banks of the canal. Attempts to release last the fourth day, and according to the channel management, after digging 20,000 tons of sand and pumping 9,000 tons of ballast water, the Ever Given propeller and rudder may work again.

In the evening, another attempt is to be made to push the ship into deeper water. A dozen or so tugs are ready. If it fails, some of the containers will have to be removed from the deck, and there are about 20,000 of them stacked up to the height of a 10-story block. Therefore, high cranes would have to be brought. In addition, experts warn that removing the containers only from the corrugated and bow parts, where the cranes will reach, could overload the central part of the hull, which could even lead to breakage. Then the channel would be blocked for good.

The president of the channel’s board also stated that it was probably not the wind that was the main cause of the incident. According to him, it is quite possible that a technician or a human failed. While crossing the canal 400 meter unit only a few people are driven by satellite location and other navigational aids. In addition to the captain, officers and steersman, a local Egyptian pilot should be present on the bridge.

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