# Breaking News: Suez Canal blocked by a mega-sized container vessel \[Cleared\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 23, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516 "2021-03-23T21:52:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/464 "2021-04-14T23:37:17Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It’s certainly there are specific shipments of some specific _rare_ goods trapped on that ship. Sucks if you’re the guy waiting for one of those. Like some custom built part for a rocket ship or something that has a 6 month lead time to make another. Sucks if you’re any guy waiting for anything. Lots of small companies ship small loads to small customers in consolidated loads that don’t even make a full container. Sucks to be either end of that. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/465 "2021-04-14T23:54:32Z")
Agreed. Some folks will be buying and paying for replacement gizmo(s) and eventually getting their original(s) off the Ever Given whenever the Egyptians deign to release the ransomed cargo. That can suck. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/466 "2021-04-16T10:35:19Z")
It’s not just goods with a long lead time, but perishables too. I couldn’t find out how many of the containers on Ever Given were reefers (if any) but there are bound to be goods in the boxes that have a passed or rapidly approaching ‘use-by’ date. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/467 "2021-04-17T12:19:27Z")
Huh?! Oh… > **[What Is Refrigerated Trucking? | Freightquote](https://www.freightquote.com/define/what-is-refrigerated-trucking/)** > > Refrigerated trucking is temperature-controlled means of transport where trailers have built-in refrigeration systems. Learn more refrigerated transportation. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/468 "2021-04-19T01:55:18Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > It’s not just goods with a long lead time, but perishables too. I couldn’t find out how many of the containers on Ever Given were reefers (if any) but there are bound to be goods in the boxes that have a passed or rapidly approaching ‘use-by’ date. heres whats going on about that today [https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-operators-of-the-ever-given-may-be-forced-to-unload-its-18-000-cargo-containers-onto-other-ships-report-says/ar-BB1fM7GJ?ocid=SK2DDHP](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-operators-of-the-ever-given-may-be-forced-to-unload-its-18-000-cargo-containers-onto-other-ships-report-says/ar-BB1fM7GJ?ocid=SK2DDHP) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/469 "2021-04-19T17:58:52Z")
An interesting question is whether the Egyptians will let them remove the cargo. The more hostages the Egyptians hold, the more pressure on the ship owners to cough up soon & cough up large. Letting 19,000 hostage containers go free removes a lot of pressure on the owners. It’ snot like the Egyptian government gives two hoots about the owners of the cargo or of the containers themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/470 "2021-04-19T20:20:06Z")
I was thinking the same thing. On the other hand, if some of the cargo on board spoils, it loses any value as a bargaining chip. You don’t pay ransom for someone who’s dead. What is the value of a container ship like that, or the cost to replace it? If the Canal Authority holds to their one-billion-dollar demand, would it be cheaper for Evergreen (or whoever owns it, I forget) to throw up their hands and say “keep it, it’s yours”? If the canal operators don’t want to go into the shipping business, how much could they sell it for? Would any shipping company buy it, or would they band together and not give in to Egypt’s extortionate demand and heavy-handed tactics? I’m all in favor of figuring out who screwed up, and having them pay a reasonable restitution, but it doesn’t sound like that is happening. If they’re just making up the rules as they go, how strange could things get? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/471 "2021-04-19T20:30:06Z")
One major worry I have is that the crew is being held and not allowed to leave. How is that not false imprisonment or kidnapping? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/472 "2021-04-19T20:30:10Z")
I read somewhere that two big retailers with merchandise on the Ever Given are Aldi (the grocery chain) and IKEA. The Aldi stuff may well include a lot of perishables. As for IKEA, I imagine they will just continue their policy of being out of stuff that I’m looking for. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/473 "2021-04-19T22:27:24Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > One major worry I have is that the crew is being held and not allowed to leave. How is that not false imprisonment or kidnapping? But who will enforce a complaint that the sovereign government of Egypt is holding people? After all, their government has said it’s OK. Yes, I suppose somebody who cared could complain to the UN or something. But over a few poor sailors who’re already considered disposable by whichever country they’re from? Not likely. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/474 "2021-04-20T02:35:33Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > What is the value of a container ship like that, or the cost to replace it? If the Canal Authority holds to their one-billion-dollar demand, would it be cheaper for Evergreen (or whoever owns it, I forget) to throw up their hands and say “keep it, it’s yours”? Discussed upthread. Probably in the $150M ballpark ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/475 "2021-04-20T11:00:16Z")
guy who drove the excavator thing that was digging it out it getting paid a nice sum supposedly > **[The bosses of the Suez Canal say the excavator operator who helped free the...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/bosses-suez-canal-excavator-operator-161904362.html)** > > After Insider interviewed Abdullah Abdul-Gawad, whose digger helped free the Ever Given, the Suez Canal Authority said he got his overtime. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/476 "2021-04-26T13:15:05Z")
## Free at last! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fddCfXvrw-0/maxresdefault.jpg "Free At Last!!! After 4 Years on an Abandoned Ship | Chief MAKOi") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fddCfXvrw-0) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/477 "2021-04-26T17:04:03Z")
That’s good news. I hope the company he worked for has a massive amount of money for him. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2021, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/478 "2021-04-29T16:47:56Z")
He’s certainly earned it, the poor bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/479 "2021-06-23T21:18:41Z")
Looks like people may soon (?) get their shipping containers. > **[The Ever Given could soon be released by the Suez Canal | CNN Business](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/23/business/ever-given-released/index.html)** > > The Ever Given could soon resume its journey after a deal was reached to release the quarter-mile-long container ship and the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cargo it was carrying when it blocked the Suez Canal three months ago. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/480 "2021-06-24T18:02:13Z")
Yikes! I had assumed it had gone on it’s way after the incident. So there are hundreds of containers that still have not arrived at their destination - I wonder if any of them contain perishables. Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/481 "2021-06-24T18:28:42Z")
If they did contain perishables… well, not anymore. And customers still don’t believe us at the store when we talk about supply chain problems… ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/482 "2021-06-24T19:09:45Z")
At worst, I suspect that One Euro stores across Europe are running short of cheap sippy cups and toilet brushes. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/483 "2021-06-24T19:19:40Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Looks like people may soon (?) get their shipping containers. I presume that most everything on board has been reordered and replaced. I wonder if the owners of the goods are going to have storage problems when they get an extra shipment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516.md?page=25)