Suez Canal Blocked

[tiggerblue10]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56505413

I didn't realise the Suez Canal was so narrow or is it that Evergreen is just mahussive? Is this the largest vessel or are their larger ones?

[tamborine]

Army days we sailed in these liners thru Suez & females were not allowed upon deck coz arabs exposed themselves - but we peeped thru portholes ;)

https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/SS_Lancashire

[malagabob]

The ships name is Ever Given. It’s a container ship. They carry a few thousand containers.

[1ozzy]

Female captain attempting a three point turn ;-/

[Herbgardener]

The ship blocking the canal is the size of the Empire State Building.

[1ozzy]

Tall and thin Herbgardener?

[rowanwitch]

Dave would have been fascinated, anything ship related he would have been watching it on webcams, tracking it on ais,anything he could find. I just think someone is in trouble when they next dock.

[Hopkirk]

All those containers act as a sail, and it was very windy apparently.

[satprof]

Hopkirk-07:41
It's the same on all these slab-sided vessels. Even the Dover car-ferries can lose control in strong winds. I was once on a DFDS ferry that lost its no-claims bonus by smashing into a pier when trying to berth at Dover. It was being pushed by the Harbour Board tug at the time. The combined power of the tug plus the ferry's thrusters could do nothing against the wind and the momentum. That was awesome to watch but was approximately one-tenth the scale of the Ever wotsit.

The Canal authorities may have to institute crosswind regulations, similar to those for aircraft, when E- W gusts exceed a certain figure.

[Hopkirk]

Ouch Satprof, that must have been frightening.

Don't worry about the ship, they are sure it is unsinkable.

[ichkeria]

It’s a canal dug by hand. It’s unlikely to be massively wide :-)

[lankeela]

A few years ago on holiday in Malta we stayed opposite the Freeport terminal and spent hours just watching the ships dock and unload. It was fascinating stuff, watching the harbour pilots going out to bring them in and turn them so they could dock safely. While we were there they had the biggest one they'd ever had arrive. We sat up most of the night watching it!

[tamborine]

Ethiopean pirates will be jumping in glee if Suez not cleared ;)

[bookbinder]

https://www.ft.com/content/eec9f3a6-2817-45f5-b007-a290f3e530c6

[bookbinder]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/56523659

[vulcan42]

Is there any reason why they can't attach a hawser from the the rear of the stricken ship to the front of the ship behind and pull the back end free?

[Canary42]

All the ships queued up behind it have been towed back out of the canal and are either moored up or going the long way round the Cape of Good Hope.

[bluemoon1]

//Is there any reason why they can't attach a hawser from the the rear of the stricken ship to the front of the ship behind and pull the back end free?//
Send them a message, I bet they haven't thought of that.