The 400-meter-long container ship Ever Given that is blocking the Suez Canal was almost pulled loose on Saturday evening, NedCargo reports. Salvager Boskalis reports that the rudder has been freed,
The towing went better than expected on Saturday evening. The Ever Given came off easily because the recovery companies had the tide with them due to the high water.
The owner of the Ever Given said earlier in the day that he was already hopeful that the 220,000-ton vessel would be pulled loose on Saturday evening. Yukito Higaki, president of the ship lease company Shoei Kisen Kaisha said in a press conference for Japanese media.
Yukito Higaki, president of the ship leasing company Shoei Kisen Kaisha, explains that soil had to be removed from under the ship using dredging equipment, a job that Smit, the daughter of the Dutch Boskalis, helps with. Once pulled loose, the 400-meter-long Ever Given should function as before. “The ship is not making water. There are also no problems with the rudder and the propellers. ”
Boskalis informed on Saturday morning that it is underway from the Red Sea with two sea tugs. They are expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday, smaller tugs from the Egyptian Suez Canal Authority, among others, are busy pulling the raft around the ship. Sand has also been removed around the Ever Given for a few days, so that it is free. There is also a land crane on its way to get 600 containers from the front of the ship if necessary. “Our team is busy with calculations and we are constantly working on all options. We adhere to the salvage schedule as agreed on Friday, but all effort is of course included. On Sunday or Monday we will start with an attempt with more towing power, ”said the Boskalis spokesperson.