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Vicky Fragasso-Marquis
The Canadian Press
A huge stranded container ship has been stranded for several days on this crucial waterway for international trade. As of Sunday morning, more than 320 boats were waiting to pass through the canal, from the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, according to the canal’s service company, Leth Agencies.
The Port of Montreal “certainly” expects this situation to cause delays for ships passing through the canal, transiting to Europe and then heading to the metropolis to deliver goods.
It is goods from Asia that are affected, given that the Port of Montreal is connected to the continent by the Suez or Panama canals, explained by email Mélanie Nadeau, director of communications at the Port of Montreal.
Traffic from Asia accounts for about 25% of the port’s trade, she added.
Several products are delivered from Asia, including clothing, electronics and building materials. On the export side, shipments of grain, pulp and paper, as well as forest products could be affected by delays.
“It is not currently possible to quantify the anticipated impact of the blockade of the Suez Canal for the Port of Montreal,” said Mr.me Nadeau. We are closely monitoring developments. ”
At the Port of Quebec, the portrait seems less critical for the moment. The incident is not expected to have any direct impacts, at least in the short term, in the weeks to come.
“On the other hand, if it lasts two to three months, it is sure that there could be impacts to a certain degree,” said the spokesperson for the Port of Quebec, Frédéric Lagacé.
“(In Montreal) they are more on the container, us with regard to the bulk, because currently what we do at the Port of Quebec is solid and liquid bulk, for these goods, in a short-term horizon, there is no significant impact. ”
According to a rescue expert interviewed by the Associated Press, release the freighter Ever Given could take up to a week’s work at best. The ship may have suffered structural problems due to its awkward position, said Nick Sloane, who led the large-scale effort to save the Costa Concordia cruise ship in 2012.
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