What an unbelievable story to hear about this giant container ship that blocked the Suez Canal for nearly a week. This container vessel was carrying 18,300 containers of cargo. It is one of the largest container vessels and it ran aground on Tuesday after being lodged sideways across the waterway. I read that it cost the global economy an estimated $400 million dollars per HOUR?!?! Being in the port city of Savannah, this hits close to home. We see these container ships all the time coming in and out of our waterways. I also own a staffing company which works with many distribution centers who rely on these container ships to bring in their products. I am not sure if the Savannah Port was affected by this blockage but I know it hurt a great deal of the economy. Not exactly something we need anytime, but especially not in the middle of a pandemic.

At least 360 ships, carrying everything from cars to oil to grain, wait at the canal’s northern and southern entrances and an additional 300 ships were en route to the canal over the next two weeks. Some ships have already diverted to the African route. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, making it the shortest maritime route to Asia from Europe. Since its completion in 1869, it has become one of the world’s most heavily used shipping lanes.

I will have to admit that I was not familiar with the Suez Canal. But it has been interesting to learn more about this because of where I live and my business. Thankfully the vessel was freed earlier today but I am wondering how long it will take the economy to recover from yet another misfortune?!? https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2021/03/26/how-evergreens-ship-got-stuck-in-the-suez-canal/7010375002/