Suez Canal partially restored

A spokesman for the vessel's owner said the massive container ship that has blocked the Suez Canal for almost a week ‘has turned’ but is not yet afloat.

Evergreen was stuck at an angle of 30 degrees towards the canal but that has eased," adding that the ship "has turned" but it "is not afloat." said the official.

"A total of 11 tug boats have been pulling Ever Given since this morning," he added.

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority said the Ever Given has been turned in the ‘right direction.’

"The position of the ship has been reoriented 80% in the right direction," SCA chief Osama Rabie said in a statement.

"The stern... moved to 102 metres from the shore," compared to its position four metres from the shore previously, he thought.

At least 369 vessels were waiting to transit the canal, including dozens of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, SCA Chairman Osama Rabie voiced.

It should be noted that more than ten per cent of world trade is through the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal is the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe. About 15% of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal, which is a key source of foreign currency revenue for Egypt. The current stoppage is costing the canal €12m to €13m a day.

The Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest waterways, continued to remain blocked as a giant container ship is stuck sideways in it hindering global shipping and trade for the sixth day on Sunday.

The 400 metres (430 yards) long Ever Given, which is wedged diagonally across a southern section of the canal, moved slightly as efforts underway to dislodge it allowed it's stern and rudder to move, the head of the canal authority told.