This view from space captures the true extent of the maritime traffic jam caused by the massive ship that blocks the Suez Canal, amid the new fears that logjam could lead to piracy.
Satellite images show dozens of ships trapped in the Gulf of Suez, at the northern end of the Red Sea, while the 1,300-foot-long Ever Done is wedged diagonally across the canal, blocking its meander.
Tiny Dover satellites operated by San Francisco-based Planet and Airbus-built Pleiades satellite captured high images of the flotilla waiting to enter the blocked channel, Space reported. how.
The mix of stranded ships includes at least 41 bulk carriers, 33 container ships, dozens of tankers and at least one Russian warship, according to The Drive, which cites Lloyd’s List.
The fully loaded ship, which shifted 220,000 tonnes, was hit on Tuesday by unexpectedly strong winds that pushed it along the edge of the 673-meter-wide canal.
Meanwhile, several shipping companies around the world have contacted the U.S. Navy because of the possibility that pirates could target their redirected ships, the Financial Times reported.
Rescue experts said it could take weeks to resolve the mess, forcing the industry to consider anchoring billions of dollars of cargo at sea or making long, potentially risky routes across Africa.
A spokesman for the Fifth Navy Fleet told the Financial Times that it has received several inquiries over the past two days from shipping companies about maritime security in the region, which has a history of piracy.
Zhao Qing-feng, an official with the Shipowners Association of China, said the diversion of ships entails safety considerations.
“Africa is at risk of piracy, especially in East Africa,” he told reporters, adding that companies may need to hire additional security guards.
Willy Lin, chairman of the Hong Kong Carriers Council, said warships from several countries might be needed to protect ships in the area.
Although pirates have long targeted ships along East Africa, there has recently been an increase in kidnappings at sea and other maritime crimes in West Africa.
The U.S. Navy told the Financial Times that naval operations have not yet been affected in the region, but companies were concerned that if the blockade continued, their ships could face risks.
James Wroe, head of transatlantic operations for the Danish company Maersk Asia-Pacific, wrote on social media that the decision on whether to redirect the ships was a “roll of the dice”, according to the medium.
On Friday, tugs and a specialized suction dredger worked to evacuate the Ever Give, as the nearly 240 other boats were trapped indefinitely.
Using data from trackers of the automatic vessel identification system at sea, data firm Refinitiv shared an analysis with the Associated Press that showed more than 300 vessels remained en route to the waterway over the next two weeks. .