Ever Given container ship ‘partially refloated’ in Suez Canal

SUEZ, Egypt — A massive container ship that became stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal nearly a week ago has been partially refloated, officials said.

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In a Facebook post Monday, the Suez Canal Authority said crews had restored the direction of the Ever Given, a Panamanian cargo ship, by about 80% after using “successful push and tow maneuvers.” About 9:30 a.m. local time, the ship’s stern was about 102 meters from the canal’s bank, up from just 4 meters before the operation began, officials said.

“Maneuvers are set to be resumed once more during high tide at 11:30 a.m.; as it shall reach 2 meters, allowing for the full restoration of the vessel’s direction so it is positioned in the middle of the navigable waterway,” the Facebook post read.

According to The Associated Press, the ship, which is owned by Japanese firm Shoei Kisen KK, became stuck Tuesday, blocking the canal near Suez. The incident has created a logjam of more than 350 vessels waiting to travel through the canal, the news agency reported.

Photos: Ever Given container ship 'partially refloated' in Suez Canal This photo released by the Suez Canal Authority shows tug boats and dredgers working to free the Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned Ever Given, which is lodged across the Suez Canal, Sunday, March 28, 2021. Two additional tugboats are speeding to canal to aid efforts to free the skyscraper-sized container ship wedged for days across the crucial waterway. That's even as major shippers increasingly divert their boats out of fear the vessel may take even longer to free. (Suez Canal Authority via AP)

Photos: Ever Given container ship 'partially refloated' in Suez Canal Sunrise beyond commercial shipping at the entrance to the Suez Canal in Suez, Egypt on Monday, March 29, 2021. The Ever Given has been re-floated in an operation early Monday and maneuvers are scheduled to resume again at about 11:30 a.m. local time, as the water level rises to its maximum height, the Suez Canal Authority said in a statement. (Islam Safwat/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Photos: Ever Given container ship 'partially refloated' in Suez Canal Ever Given, a Panama-flagged cargo ship that is wedged across the Suez Canal and blocking traffic in the vital waterway is seen Sunday, March 28, 2021. The massive Ever Given, a Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned ship that carries cargo between Asia and Europe, got stuck Tuesday in a single-lane stretch of the canal. In the time since, authorities have been unable to remove the vessel and traffic through the canal has been halted. (AP Photo/Mohamed Elshahed)

Photos: Ever Given container ship 'partially refloated' in Suez Canal Cargo ships are seen in the Gulf of Suez as Ever Given, a Panama-flagged cargo ship that is wedged across the Suez Canal and blocking traffic Sunday, March 28, 2021. The massive Ever Given, a Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned ship that carries cargo between Asia and Europe, got stuck Tuesday in a single-lane stretch of the canal. In the time since, authorities have been unable to remove the vessel and traffic through the canal has been halted. (AP Photo/Mohamed Elshahed)

Photos: Ever Given container ship 'partially refloated' in Suez Canal In this photo released by the Suez Canal Authority, tug boats work to free the Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned Ever Given, which is lodged across the Suez Canal, Sunday, March 28, 2021. Two additional tugboats are speeding to canal to aid efforts to free the skyscraper-sized container ship wedged for days across the crucial waterway. That's even as major shippers increasingly divert their boats out of fear the vessel may take even longer to free. (Suez Canal Authority via AP)

Photos: Ever Given container ship 'partially refloated' in Suez Canal In this photo released by the Suez Canal Authority, tug boats and diggers work to free the Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned Ever Given, which is lodged across the Suez Canal, Sunday, March 28, 2021. Two additional tugboats are speeding to canal to aid efforts to free the skyscraper-sized container ship wedged for days across the crucial waterway. That's even as major shippers increasingly divert their boats out of fear the vessel may take even longer to free. (Suez Canal Authority via AP)

Photos: Ever Given container ship 'partially refloated' in Suez Canal In this photo released by the Suez Canal Authority, tug boats approach the Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned Ever Given, which is lodged across the Suez Canal, Sunday, March 28, 2021. Two additional tugboats are speeding to canal to aid efforts to free the skyscraper-sized container ship wedged for days across the crucial waterway. That's even as major shippers increasingly divert their boats out of fear the vessel may take even longer to free. (Suez Canal Authority via AP)