Ship Stuck In Suez [My Final Update: Not Anymore]

[Chan Island]

Hello NSG. How was your day? Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Did you maybe fail a driving test? Not get your homework done on time? Posted on here?

Well, don't worry, because you haven't screwed up as much as the Ever Given, a 219079 gross ton container ship originally headed for Rotterdam that is now jammed in the Suez canal, completely blocking world trade through this major artery.

https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/13 ... 0315513864

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/de ... EVER_GIVEN

https://gcaptain.com/grounded-mega-ship ... irections/

https://twitter.com/nat_ahoy/status/1374445914169831427

We also have now an image of the ship from the ground. Or water, should I say.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMxEKHanW62/

The causes of this incident aren't completely clear yet, but it is clear that this mishap has caused hours of major delay and Egypt is scrambling everything they have to try and unblock the canal. They even brought in a digger, a handy little size comparison to give you a sense of the scale of this vessel.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ExMXBRiVkAA ... me=240x240

Now, all joking aside, this is sure to be a major disruption of world trade if this lasts much longer. A lot of trade relies on a 'just-in-time' model of production or delivery, making things more efficient in the process due to savings in storage costs, but a cascading disaster if something happens. Last year's pandemic lockdowns caused a huge drop in world economic growth in part because of the disruption to global trade they represented.

In addition, it raises questions about how we do world trade. At present, container ships tend to be built as large as possible so they can barely squeak through the Panama Canal, another equally important artery in world trade (and I do mean barely- the photos are quite something), and no bigger- but as we can see, as soon as one of these giants goes wrong, problems stack.

One possible solution may be to build alternatives. Over the past couple of years, China has been investing big time into creating alternative routes for trade as part of their Belt and Road initiative. But many western governments and people around the world are skeptical of these moves, questioning the influence China is undoubtably garnering with these vast public works. And some of these proposals can be vast- including one to build a canal through Honduras, a notable much thicker country than Panama.

Perhaps this accident could inspire more ideas about how we move our goods- or even if we want to. After all, protectionist sentiment has been rising in many countries including in the United States and Western Europe.

But I leave the floor to NSG now. What lessons do you think we can learn from this? How do you think Egypt is ever going to get this massive vessel out of its predicament? Should we be building more canals around the world, and if so where and by whom? Does Evergreen, the company that owns the ship, have any questions you want to see answered? Or have you just failed your driving test but are now seeing a world of opportunity raising right before your eyes?

EDIT: Update.

https://www.gac.com/news--media/hot-por ... ed-vessel/

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/su ... r-BB1eUHYa

According to logistics authorities, the ship has now been "partially refloated", and could be shoved aside to allow ships passage. This doesn't mean that everything is quite resolved yet, and notably the Suez Canal authority hasn't issued such a statement yet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ever_Given

Also, good news, Wikipedia's been updated on the matter.

Including in its what seems to be the main reason for the incident: according to Evergreen, the shipping company, strong winds caused the accident. These winds have not stopped yet, as apparently the over 50 kilometer per hour gales have disrupted the efforts to get the ship out of the predicament too. But... well, this is a ship bigger than my entire apartment building. That's supposed to be sailing in the high seas. A bit of wind surely can't be the only reason this screw up has happened. Right?

EDIT: Update

https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence ... Ever-Given

Previous reports that the Ever Given was partially refloated have been debunked. The ship is still firmly stuck.

EDIT: Poll Added

EDIT: Update

https://istheshipstillstuck.com/

The Ever Given is now no longer stuck in the Suez canal's banks.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/eve ... 33285.html

The ship is, from latest reports, on the move towards Bitter Lake, from where she can can be properly inspected for damage and repaired if needed. For the rest of the world's trade, it will mean the canal is open for business again, the goods are saved! About time too, the blockage cost tens of billions in delays and over 300 ships were stalled in either the Med or the Red Sea for almost an entire week.

Also, we finally have a wikipedia page dedicated entirely to this incident:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Suez ... bstruction

But at least, of all the reasons one can think of 10% of global goods trade being disrupted, one of the most entertaining.

Make sure to put your memes in the tip jar now.

[Adamede]

Maybe we should move away from a “just in time system.

Also Iirc this isn’t the first time some hung like this has happened.

[SD_Film Artists]

Should just get a load of tugboats.

[Galloism]

How do we even fix that? Serious question. That thing is so big and so heavy how do we unstick it?

[Farnhamia]

How do we even fix that? Serious question. That thing is so big and so heavy how do we unstick it?

Okay, first you unload everything ...

[Chan Island]

How do we even fix that? Serious question. That thing is so big and so heavy how do we unstick it?

So far Egypt's trying to do so with at least 12 tug boats and a digger, with more resources already pouring in. But it is going to be a challenge. Over 200k tons of ship and goods doesn't budge easily when stuck.

[Ethel mermania]

On the bright side this didn't happen when the ship was on the high seas, a blackout condition would be very bad during a storm.

[Immortan Khan]

How do we even fix that? Serious question. That thing is so big and so heavy how do we unstick it?

So far Egypt's trying to do so with at least 12 tug boats and a digger, with more resources already pouring in. But it is going to be a challenge. Over 200k tons of ship and goods doesn't budge easily when stuck.

Well I would say the very weird angle it is at that is the biggest issue. Tug boats often routinely assist massive cargo ships without much issue. This though? This is, uh, this is going to make things a tad tricky.

[Kowani]

firstly, the ship is huge

EVERGIVEN
Size: 400m long / 59m wide
Gross tonnage: 219,079
Capacity: 20,388 TEUs (20ft container equivalents)

secondly,

[Immortan Khan]

firstly, the ship is huge

EVERGIVEN
Size: 400m long / 59m wide
Gross tonnage: 219,079
Capacity: 20,388 TEUs (20ft container equivalents)

secondly,

(Image)
(Image)(Image)(Image)

Yeah it's going to get a lot worse lmao.

[Immortan Khan]

Maybe we should move away from a “just in time system.

Also Iirc this isn’t the first time some hung like this has happened.

The JIT system allows for prices on materials and consumer goods to be reduced and minimizing the need to create even larger storage spaces.

[Senkaku]

that poor little excavator grinding away all by its lonesome by the bow lmaoooo that's gonna take a while

Maybe we should move away from a “just in time system.

Also Iirc this isn’t the first time some hung like this has happened.

The JIT system allows for prices on materials and consumer goods to be reduced and minimizing the need to create even larger storage spaces.

[begins hurling wrenches into the gears of the global economy] how about now?

Yes, it's become a la mode for armchair economists like NSGers to rail against JIT supply, but that doesn't mean ALL the criticisms are off base

[Kowani]

this might be a problem

[Immortan Khan]

that poor little excavator grinding away all by its lonesome by the bow lmaoooo that's gonna take a while

The JIT system allows for prices on materials and consumer goods to be reduced and minimizing the need to create even larger storage spaces.

[begins hurling wrenches into the gears of the global economy] how about now?

Yes, it's become a la mode for armchair economists like NSGers to rail against JIT supply, but that doesn't mean ALL the criticisms are off base

No that it is quite vulnerable to disruptions is a legitimate criticism but tbh the benefits of it in terms of global trade is worth the risks involved, albeit I do agree there needs to be more alternative major trade routes to reduce vulnerability. Ports however only have limited space as do storage facilities which not only would cost a lot in terms of expanding and building but also staffing and maintaining not to mention the costs of storing the increased amounts of goods and materials resulting in that. With some things it could even be more dangerous since we probably do not want more potentially explosive materials in storage than needed.

[Senkaku]

The Northern Sea Route is looking better all the time ain't she

BURN THAT CARBON BABES we have a canal to bypass!

[Punished UMN]

have they tried jiggling it?

[Immortan Khan]

This is why we need to build the Nicaragua Canal, Thai Canal, and Dead Sea Canal. Build all the canals!

[Kowani]

This is why we need to build the Nicaragua Canal, Thai Canal, and Dead Sea Canal. Build all the canals!

i suspect a dead sea canal would be a geopolitical nightmare

[Punished UMN]

This is why we need to build the Nicaragua Canal, Thai Canal, and Dead Sea Canal. Build all the canals!

i suspect a dead sea canal would be a geopolitical nightmare

Unrelated but I've actually had nightmares about geopolitics, that international relations degree got me actin strange.

[Chan Island]

that poor little excavator grinding away all by its lonesome by the bow lmaoooo that's gonna take a while


[begins hurling wrenches into the gears of the global economy] how about now?

Yes, it's become a la mode for armchair economists like NSGers to rail against JIT supply, but that doesn't mean ALL the criticisms are off base

No that it is quite vulnerable to disruptions is a legitimate criticism but tbh the benefits of it in terms of global trade is worth the risks involved, albeit I do agree there needs to be more alternative major trade routes to reduce vulnerability. Ports however only have limited space as do storage facilities which not only would cost a lot in terms of expanding and building but also staffing and maintaining not to mention the costs of storing the increased amounts of goods and materials resulting in that. With some things it could even be more dangerous since we probably do not want more potentially explosive materials in storage than needed.

Yeah. That explosion in Beirut last year was not pleasant. There are definitely drawbacks to keeping things around in storage, especially when you just don't have to.

[Immortan Khan]

This is why we need to build the Nicaragua Canal, Thai Canal, and Dead Sea Canal. Build all the canals!

i suspect a dead sea canal would be a geopolitical nightmare

We just need to dump a lot of Xanax into the canal to make the nightmare go away.

[Kowani]

i suspect a dead sea canal would be a geopolitical nightmare

Unrelated but I've actually had nightmares about geopolitics, that international relations degree got me actin strange.

call sully, we'll use you as an energy source

i suspect a dead sea canal would be a geopolitical nightmare

We just need to dump a lot of Xanax into the canal to make the nightmare go away.

...i don't think that'll work

[Heloin]

This is why we need to build the Nicaragua Canal, Thai Canal, and Dead Sea Canal. Build all the canals!

i suspect a dead sea canal would be a geopolitical nightmare

Imagine the locks though!

[The Blaatschapen]

Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
Don't get stuck at Suez
That's a ba-ad dream

[Heloin]

(Image)

this might be a problem

I don't know what I gave a minute ago.