CAIRO - Tugboats refloated a large ship that had been stranded in the Suez Canal, shipping agent Leth Agencies said on Thursday, allowing flows through one of the world's busiest waterways to return to normal. "The Suez Canal Authority has successfully refloated M/V XIN HAI TONG 23 at 0740hrs (0440 GMT). In a statement, canal authorities said they were informed of an engine malfunction and deployed tugboats to successfully refloat the ship. Approximately 12% of the world's trade moves through the Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. During strong winds in 2021, a huge container ship, the Ever Given, became jammed across Suez Canal, halting traffic in both directions for six days and disrupting global trade.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 25, 2023 05:45 UTC