The refloating of the giant container vessel Ever Given, which ran aground in the Suez Canal last Tuesday, will be remembered as a triumph in the international waterway’s 152-year history, a senior official said Tuesday.
Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chairman Osama Rabie said state institutions concerned gave full support to free the ship.
The operation would not have been a success without Egyptian skill and determination, Rabie added.
“We are prouder to welcome President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on the banks of the Suez Canal, a vital element in the free flow of global trade movement,” Rabie said.
“The endeavours by the government and hourly follow-up by the political leadership were key to the unprecedented achievement to successfully refloat such a gigantic vessel,” he said.
The 224,000-tonne Ever Given is 400 metres long – the length of four football pitches – and 52 metres wide.
The vessel had 18,300 containers onbboard.
“From the moment Ever Given was stranded across the canal, we immediately initiated several scenarios to solve the problem, bearing in mind the challenges during the salvage process,” the SCA chief said.
“The ship’s huge dimensions, poor weather during the first four days and the tides had to be considered,” he said.
“As for the 422 ships that had accumulated at the north and south entrances to the canal, rather than use the alternative route and go round the Cape of Good Hope, they preferred to wait until Ever Given was refloated.
“This proved beyond any doubt the great strategic importance of the Suez Canal, despite occasional reports about alternative routes.
“This incident has shown that the Suez Canal will remain most efficient course for global trade,” he said, adding that priority would be given to five ships carrying 60,000 head of cattle.
