Suez canal where is it

Julianna Cona, who says she is on board another ship located directly behind the Ever Given, wrote on Instagram : "Ship in front of us ran aground while going through the canal and is now stuck sideways looks like we might be here for a little bit The Suez Canal is an artery of world trade, connecting the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, and providing an avenue for vessels to pass between Asia and the Middle East and Europe.

The main alternative, a passage round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, takes considerably longer. It is particularly important as an avenue for oil and liquified natural gas, enabling shipments to get from the Middle East to Europe. The nightmare scenario, then, is for this crucial route to be blocked - which is exactly what has now happened with the stranding of the Ever Given. 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.

On this occasion, reports suggest traffic could be flowing again relatively quickly, in which case the impact will be limited, although there has been a rise in the oil price.

But the incident has shown what can go wrong when the new generation of ultra-large vessels like the Ever Given have to pass through the relatively tight confines of the canal. Although parts of it were expanded as part of a major modernisation programme in the middle of the last decade, it remains tricky to navigate - and accidents can happen.

The ship has the capacity to carry 20, ft shipping containers, according to Reuters news agency. One such plan aimed at connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Ocean directly, thus saving time either to sail around Africa or transhipping freight or passengers across the Suez Peninsula.

The next attempt to build a canal in the area occurred in the mids when a French diplomat and engineer, Ferdinand de Lesseps, convinced the Egyptian viceroy Said Pasha to support the building of a canal. In , the Universal Suez Ship Canal Company La Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez was formed and given the right to begin construction of the canal and operate it for 99 years, after which time, the Egyptian government would take over control of the canal.

The construction of the Suez Canal officially began on April 25, It was estimated that a total of 2, million cubic feet of earth- million on land and 2, million through dredging- would have to be moved for building the canal. Furthermore, the total original cost of the project was estimated at million francs. Britain continued to oppose the project until the Empire bought a 44 per cent stake in the canal after the Egyptian government auctioned off its shares in due to financial problems.

Initially, the construction of the canal was carried out by forced labourers. It is said that thousands of people were forcefully assigned to dig the canal using picks and shovels until Pasha banned the use of forced labour in This compelled the Suez Canal Company to bring custom-made steam and coal-powered shovels and dredgers to build the canal.

With the help of this machinery, the project received the boost it required and allowed the waters of the Mediterranean flow into the Red Sea through the canal on November 17, When it opened for the navigation, the Suez Canal was to feet wide at the surface, 72 feet wide at the bottom and 25 feet deep. At the time of completion, the total cost of the project was more than twice the original estimates. After completion of the project, the Suez Canal had a significant impact on world trade despite the traffic through the waterway was below expectations in the initial years.

Meanwhile, the financial problems linked with the construction of the canal allowed the British government to buy the stakes owned by Egyptian interests in to become the major shareholder in the Suez Canal Company. The canal was vital to the British economy as it provided a shorter sea route to its colonies and the oilfields of the Persian Gulf.

His idea led to more surveys and schemes for a canal in the s and s until, in , it was made official. A French company, the Suez Canal Company, was given a 99 year lease to build and operate the canal. First, Egyptian forced labourers were used and later Europeans, and the challenging terrain meant that the project ended up taking a decade rather than the six years originally planned.

On November 17, , the Suez Canal was officially opened. Originally, the project was owned owned by the French and the then ruler of Egypt, Said Pasha, but six years later Egypt, in the face of financial difficulties, put its substantial holdings up for sale.

Who should immediately buy up the entire Egyptian share? Yukito Higaki of Imabari shipbuilding, of which Shoei Kisen is a subsidiary, said the company would continue to be "a regular and loyal customer" of the Suez Canal Authority.

The vessel, with an Indian crew, is still loaded with about 18, containers. It is due to undergo an inspection by divers at Port Said before sailing to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and then to the UK port of Felixstowe where it will offload its containers, the Wall Street Journal reported. Stuck Suez ship finally on the move again. The cost of the Suez Canal blockage. Efforts to shift ship in pictures.

How is the ship being freed? Image source, Reuters. A satellite photograph reveals how the Ever Given was wedged across the canal. Relief as saga ends.