The Ever Given has been “successfully refloated” on the Suez Canal, according to Inchcape Shipping Services, a week after it ran aground in high winds blocking one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Inchcape said the 400-metre long (1,312-foot) ship began to move at 4.30am (02:30 GMT).
“She is being secured at the moment. More information about next steps will follow once they are known,” the company said on Twitter.
A video posted on Facebook early on Monday appeared to show the stern of the container ship that had been stuck in the Suez Canal swung towards the canal bank, opening space in the narrow channel.
The video showed tug boats moving around the Ever Given container ship and voices could be heard shouting in celebration.
Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency reported that it had seen images of the ship straightened in the canal and quoted unnamed local sources saying the Ever Given was back on its “normal course”.
Egypt sent extra tug boats to assist with efforts to refloat the ship on Sunday, with experts pinning hopes on a high tide to help dislodge the ship.
As of Sunday, more than 300 boats were waiting to travel through the canal, including dozens of container ships, liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels as well as ships carrying livestock (Source: AlJazeera).
The Ever Given Container Ship Still Swamped at Suez Canal
