# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/121 "2021-03-25T00:23:22Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Every box on the ship has a source and a destination, which would need to be faked hundreds of times over. nit pick: drug smugglers manage to routinely falsify source and destination. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/122 "2021-03-25T00:43:54Z")
2013: [Ship attack foiled in Suez Canal | Middle East News | Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2013/9/1/ship-attack-foiled-in-suez-canal) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/123 "2021-03-25T00:44:16Z")
Clearly all they need to do is drive of one of those big German Bucket-Wheel Excavators down there and dig out around the ship. They’ll be done in a hour or so. Problem solved, I’ll just have myself a drink while the transport logicians deal with the other trivial issues. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/124 "2021-03-25T01:02:52Z")
Faster solution: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/mnp42nO.jpeg "Imgur: The magic of the Internet") ](https://imgur.com/mnp42nO) Problem solved. I’ll just have myself a drink while the aeronautical engineers deal with the trivial upscaling issues. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/125 "2021-03-25T01:07:40Z")
They’ve given up for the night and will try again tomorrow: [Suez Canal latest: Ever Given rescue efforts suspended with traffic still blocked - CityAM : CityAM](https://www.cityam.com/suez-canal-blocked-with-mega-container-ship/) “Rescue efforts to move a giant container ship that has blocked the Suez Canal since yesterday were suspended this evening. Authorities in Egypt said they will resume the operation tomorrow morning. Although the ship was partially refloated this afternoon, the 200,000-tonne MV Ever Given is still unable to turn around despite several refloating attempts. Strong winds are thought to be to blame for the ship’s grounding, according to its owners. At present, traffic along the waterway in Egypt is still blocked in both directions by the 59m-wide cargo ship.” ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/126 "2021-03-25T01:19:33Z")
I wonder how many times this ship as been through the canal? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/127 "2021-03-25T01:57:58Z")
If the blockage goes on for too long, might some of the stuck-in-traffic ships decide to just go the long way and re-route around Africa to get to Asia? Or do they not have enough fuel? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/128 "2021-03-25T02:00:04Z")
They could get more fuel if they wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/129 "2021-03-25T02:00:22Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Once I was at an IKEA store that had just opened and as I was leaving the parking garage, I saw a pile of containers. Presumably these were used to deliver all of the stuff to the store. I really doubt that a store like IKEA would be feasible without these containers. They didn’t come strapped to the roof of the truck cab? With disassembly instructions? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/130 "2021-03-25T02:10:00Z")
No, they did not. Although I once had an idea that shipping containers should be designed so they can be knocked down into panels consisting of the walls, ceiling and floor. That way, empty containers can be transported in less space. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/131 "2021-03-25T02:21:58Z")
Hopefully, after this is over, the Egyptians will widen the Canal so that its width will never be less than the maximum length of an incoming ship. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/132 "2021-03-25T02:26:46Z")
It’s an idea that has been raised previously and there may even be examples available. A problem you have though is that a standard ISO container must have certain tight dimensional tolerances, and ability to withstand various forces, so they can lock together and be stacked. And your knocked down container would _also_ need to fit a particular spec, when knocked down, so it too could be stacked. No doubt it would be do-able, but suspect that you might find the returns don’t justify the expense and complication. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/133 "2021-03-25T02:28:47Z")
The cost/benefit would be dubious at best. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/134 "2021-03-25T02:32:20Z")
And someone will build a larger ship and/or give it a more inept crew. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/135 "2021-03-25T02:35:39Z")
To a certain extent, though, cargo ships are built to be just large enough for the canals, as with the [Panamax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamax) ships. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/136 "2021-03-25T02:36:42Z")
I believe it was built for the Europe - Asia trade which involves a round trip of about ten weeks. It’s about three years old. So that’s about 30 through-and-back passages. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/138 "2021-03-25T02:53:40Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@Morgyn](#): > > > > Today it’s being reported that the issue was not a loss of power. They’re saying a GUST OF WIND caused it to run aground. > > “A gust of wind hit the ship.” > “Is that unusual?” > 'Oh, yeah. In the desert? Chance in a million." Since I live in the desert where we get up to 60+ mph winds on an almost daily basis and those flatbed train cars filled with those things tip over I can see this happening … ---
**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:** [March 25, 2021, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/139 "2021-03-25T02:58:15Z")
They did, in 2014 to 2015. The old one is now being used to divert traffic to while the new one is blocked by the Ever Given. > **[Suez Canal Area Development Project | Progress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal_Area_Development_Project#Progress)** > > Technical difficulties initially arose, such as the flooding of the new canal through seepage from the existing canal. Nevertheless, work on the New Suez Canal was completed in July 2015. The channel was officially inaugurated with a ceremony attended by foreign leaders and featuring military flypasts on 6 August 2015, in accordance with the budgets laid out for the project. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/140 "2021-03-25T03:07:06Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > To a certain extent, though, cargo ships are built to be just large enough for the canals, as with the [Panamax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamax) ships. Note that Panamax is the largest that could fit through the old canal locks. Neopanamax or New Panamax fit the new Panama Canal locks. There’s a whole set of maximum dimensions for various sea lanes and ports: [cargo ship size categories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_ship#Size_categories), including Suezmax, which this ship is probably close to. > **[Suezmax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suezmax)** > > "Suezmax" is a naval architecture term for the largest ship measurements capable of transiting the Suez Canal in a laden condition, and is almost exclusively used in reference to tankers. The limiting factors are beam, draft, height (because of the Suez Canal Bridge), and length (even though the canal has no locks). > The current channel depth of the canal allows for a maximum of 20.1 metres (66 ft) of draft, meaning that a few fully laden supertankers are too deep to fit through, and either have ... ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516/141 "2021-03-25T04:58:25Z")
There’s The Infamous Truck-Eating Bridge in Davenport, Iowa. > **[Davenport’s ‘truck-eating bridge’ takes another](https://www.kwqc.com/2020/07/27/davenports-truck-eating-bridge-takes-another/)** > > The railroad bridge over Brady St. in Davenport was hit by another truck on Sunday. One of the early 2020 trucks was full of toilet paper. A local charity prints up a calendar every year featuring these trucks, and sells it as a fundraiser. p.s. I don’t think anyone has mentioned that the toll for the Suez Canal averages $700,000 for a large container ship. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-suez-canal-blocked-by-a-mega-sized-container-vessel-cleared/938516.md?page=8)