Suez Canal is finally unblocked after megaship Ever Given is freed

After blocking the Suez Canal for almost a week, the giant cargo ship Ever Given is now free and sailing as a result of extensive hours-long towing efforts by over 10 tugboats, the Suez Canal Authority announced in a statement on Monday.

The ship is currently on its way to Great Bitter Lake, according to Leth Agencies, a transit agent at the Suez Canal. Once there, it is set to undergo a technical inspection.

The traffic is prepared to resume at the Suez Canal, with more than 350 vessels waiting on either side of the canal, according to estimates from Leth Agencies. This includes container ships, bulk carriers as well as oil tankers.

The Ever Given is one of the largest cargo ships in the world. The 220,000-ton vessel is able to carry 20,000 containers, and stretching more than 1,300 feet. It is almost as long as the Empire State Building is tall.

The ship, which ran aground last Tuesday, created further disruptions in a global supply chain already straining under the ongoing impacts of Covid-19.