Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), has announced this morning, that the container ship Ever Given has been successfully refloated. This was the result of successful push and tow manoeuvres which led to the restoration of 80% of the vessel’s direction; with the stern 102m. away from the bank of the Canal now instead of 4m. prior to the refloating.
Manoeuvres are set to be resumed once more during high tide this morning as it shall reach 2m., allowing for the full restoration of the vessel’s steering so it is positioned in the middle of the navigable waterway.
Admiral Rabie said in a statement he would like to reassure the international shipping community that navigation shall be resumed immediately upon the complete restoration of the vessel’s operation and directing it to the Bitter Lakes waiting area for technical inspection.
Over the weekend further dredging operations meant 27,000 tonnes of sand and mud were moved and workers from the authority and the Dutch company Smit Salvage used tug boats to shift the ship from the canal bank allowing the rudder and propeller to operate.
Around 367 vessels are waiting for navigation to resume.
