The impact on the global supply chain, especially on the Asia – Europe route
As reported by several press sources, a container ship operated by Evergreen Marine ran aground in the Suez Canal at around 8 am local time on March 23, causing a massive blockage of ship traffic in both directions.
The blockage is creating long tailbacks in the waterway, with more than 150 vessels currently waiting in the area to pass.
On average, nearly 50 vessels per day pass along the canal, although at times the number can be much higher – accounting for some 12% of world trade. It is particularly important as an avenue for oil and liquified natural gas, enabling shipments to get from the Middle East to Europe.
The question now is how long the route remains impassable, as a long delay would create serious problems for shippers, delaying consignments of goods and fuel.
The accident could accentuate the difficulties experienced in recent months due to the pandemic, such as the shortage of empty containers and delays in import / export operations to and from the Far East.
We will keep you updated.
We've been receiving a lot of requests asking us to compare traffic today at the #SuezCanal with a normal day at the waterway.
So here you go, using our Playback feature, one day last week in contrast with the last 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/pnByGshl3u— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) March 24, 2021
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