Suez Canal blockage: 25-member all Indian crew onboard giant ship Ever Given safe
Cairo/IBNS: The entire crew of 25 Indians of giant container ship Ever Given, blocking Suez Canal since the past three days, are safe, news agency ANI reported.
Gulf Agency Company (GAC) managing the container confirmed the crew was safe, said the report.
The 224,000-tonne Ever Given got stranded on Tuesday morning while on the way from China to the Dutch port city of Rotterdam after losing the ability to steer due to strong winds and a dust storm. The incident completely blocked the traffic along the waterway delaying at least 100 ships carrying different products from oil to consumer goods, as they were forced to re-route or wait for their turn to enter the canal.
Dredgers and over eight powerful tugboats have joined the efforts to refloat the container which has been blocking one of the world's busiest trade routes.
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said in a statement that no mechanical faults or engine failures have been found in the initial investigations, the report said.
No injuries, pollution or cargo damage have been reported, the statement added.
In a statement Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said the container ship which is nearly as tall as the Empire State Building ran aground on March 23 after being caught in 40-knot winds and a sandstorm that caused low visibility and poor navigation, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, German insurer Allianz in a study has showed that the Suez Canal blockage could cost global trade $6 billion to $10 billion a week, according to Reuters.
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