Ship Blocking Suez Canal Finally Freed
2021-03-30
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1Specialty teams on Monday set free a large container ship that had stopped international trade through the Suez Canal.
2For nearly one week, the ship has brought one of the world's most important sea trade routes to a complete stop.
3It held up nearly $9 billion of trade each day.
4Several tugboats pulled the large ship, called the Ever Given, from the canal's side, where it has been stuck since last Tuesday.
5The teams pulled the 220,000-ton ship toward the Great Bitter Lake, which is halfway between the north and south end of the canal.
6Experts will examine the ship there.
7Video released by the Suez Canal Authority showed the Ever Given moving, surrounded by the tugboats that helped free it.
8The tugboats sounded their horns to celebrate the end of the crisis.
9"We pulled it off!" said Peter Berdowski, the head of Boskalis, the specialty company that was asked to move the Ever Given.
10He said his team and experts from the Suez Canal Authority had "successfully refloated the Ever Given...thereby making free passage through the Suez Canal possible again."
11It remained unclear when ships will be permitted to enter the canal for normal passage.
12At least 367 ships, carrying everything from oil to cattle, are waiting to pass at both ends of the canal.
13It is estimated that it could take more than 10 days to clear the number of waiting ships.
14Many ships did not wait and left to travel around the Cape of Good Hope at Africa's southern tip.
15That route takes two weeks longer because it adds 5,000-kilometers.
16It also costs hundreds of thousands of dollars more.
17The freeing of the Ever Given succeeded after heavy equipment pulled up dirt that was holding the front of the ship in place.
18Ten tugboats pushed and pulled it for five days. Early Monday morning the ship began to pull free.
19It was not clear if the Ever Given would continue to its original destination, Rotterdam, or if it would go to a port for repairs.
20The Ever Given flies the flag of Panama and is owned by a Japanese company.
21It normally carries goods from Asia to Europe.
22Officials did not offer a time for the canal to reopen.
23The Suez Canal carries over 10 percent of international trade, including seven percent of the world's oil.
24Over 19,000 ships passed through last year, said canal officials.
25Millions of barrels of oil and gas move through the canal from the Persian Gulf to Europe and North America.
26Goods made in China that are being carried to Europe also must go through the canal, or else take the longer route around Africa.
27The shutdown had threatened to stop oil and gas shipments to Europe from the Middle East.
28It caused fears of extended delays, shortages and rising costs for most of the world's economies.
29The operation to free the Ever Give succeeded using only the tugboats and other heavy equipment.
30Canal officials did not have to lighten the ship by removing its 20,000 containers.
31I'm Susan Shand.
1Specialty teams on Monday set free a large container ship that had stopped international trade through the Suez Canal. 2For nearly one week, the ship has brought one of the world's most important sea trade routes to a complete stop. It held up nearly $9 billion of trade each day. 3Several tugboats pulled the large ship, called the Ever Given, from the canal's side, where it has been stuck since last Tuesday. 4The teams pulled the 220,000-ton ship toward the Great Bitter Lake, which is halfway between the north and south end of the canal. Experts will examine the ship there. 5Video released by the Suez Canal Authority showed the Ever Given moving, surrounded by the tugboats that helped free it. The tugboats sounded their horns to celebrate the end of the crisis. 6"We pulled it off!" said Peter Berdowski, the head of Boskalis, the specialty company that was asked to move the Ever Given. He said his team and experts from the Suez Canal Authority had "successfully refloated the Ever Given...thereby making free passage through the Suez Canal possible again." 7It remained unclear when ships will be permitted to enter the canal for normal passage. At least 367 ships, carrying everything from oil to cattle, are waiting to pass at both ends of the canal. 8It is estimated that it could take more than 10 days to clear the number of waiting ships. Many ships did not wait and left to travel around the Cape of Good Hope at Africa's southern tip. That route takes two weeks longer because it adds 5,000-kilometers. It also costs hundreds of thousands of dollars more. 9The freeing of the Ever Given succeeded after heavy equipment pulled up dirt that was holding the front of the ship in place. Ten tugboats pushed and pulled it for five days. Early Monday morning the ship began to pull free. 10It was not clear if the Ever Given would continue to its original destination, Rotterdam, or if it would go to a port for repairs. 11The Ever Given flies the flag of Panama and is owned by a Japanese company. It normally carries goods from Asia to Europe. 12Officials did not offer a time for the canal to reopen. The Suez Canal carries over 10 percent of international trade, including seven percent of the world's oil. Over 19,000 ships passed through last year, said canal officials. 13Millions of barrels of oil and gas move through the canal from the Persian Gulf to Europe and North America. Goods made in China that are being carried to Europe also must go through the canal, or else take the longer route around Africa. 14The shutdown had threatened to stop oil and gas shipments to Europe from the Middle East. It caused fears of extended delays, shortages and rising costs for most of the world's economies. 15The operation to free the Ever Give succeeded using only the tugboats and other heavy equipment. Canal officials did not have to lighten the ship by removing its 20,000 containers. 16I'm Susan Shand. 17The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 18________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20route - n. a way, or path, to get from one place to another 21tugboat - n. a small powerful boat that is used for pulling or pushing ships in harbors 22horn - n. a device that is used to make a loud noise 23stuck -adj. unable to be moved from a position 24original -adj. happening or existing first 25destination -n. the place where someone or something is going 26We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.