Massive cargo ship gets wedged in Suez Canal, cause cargo ship backup

A large cargo ship has become wedged in Egypt's Suez Canal blocking all traffic in the waterway, while workers failed to remove it from its position Wednesday.

The MV Ever Given, a Panama Flagged ship, which usually transports goods from Asia to Europe, ran aground and was wedged from one wall to the other, completely blocking the Suez Canal on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Officials say the wedged ship could disrupt the global shipping system with ships lining up in both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, hoping to get through the Canal.

“The Suez Canal will not spare any efforts to ensure the restoration of navigation and to serve the movement of global trade,” vowed Lt. Gen. Ossama Rabei, head of the Suez Canal Authority.

According to officials, it could take at least two days to free the ship.

Around 10% of world trade flows through the canal. Such as accident has not happened throughout the 150-year-old history of the canal.

It is unclear what caused the accident.

Tugboats will work to re-float the ship and use backhoes to attempt to dig it out.