Business

Suez Canal blockade: Fears mount over calamity worsening

Published

6 years ago

March 26, 2021

A huge container ship blocking the Suez Canal like a “beached whale” may take weeks to free, the salvage company has said, as officials have stopped all ships entering the channel in a new setback for global trade.

But there are fears of rising piracy among others as efforts at dreading have been slow and tortuous and the calamity may get even worse.

Every day, there is another backlog; these ships are sitting there at risk, says the International Maritime Bureau.

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia.

The Suez Canal handles about 10 per cent of international maritime trade and is one of the world’s busiest waterways, providing a crucial link for oil, natural gas and cargo shipping between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

The 400 metre EverGreen, almost as long as the Empire State Building is high, blocking transit in both directions through one of the world’s busiest shipping channels for oil and refined fuels, grain and other trade linking Asia and Europe.

Dredgers late on Thursday were still working to remove thousands of tonnes of sand from around the ship’s bow.

The Suez Canal Authority said earlier that nine tugs were working to move the vessel, which got stuck diagonally across the single-lane southern stretch of the canal on Tuesday morning amid high winds and a dust storm.

“We can’t exclude it might take weeks, depending on the situation,” Peter Berdowski, CEO of Dutch company Boskalis, one of two rescue teams trying to free the ship, told the Dutch television programme “Nieuwsuur”.

A total of 206 large container ships, tankers carrying oil and gas, and bulk vessels hauling grain have backed up at either end of the canal, according to tracking data, creating one of the worst shipping jams seen for years.

The blockage comes on top of the disruption to world trade already caused in the past year by COVID-19, with trade volumes hit by high rates of ship cancellations, shortages of containers and slower handling speeds at ports.

The world’s number one line AP Moller Maersk said it was considering diverting vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding five to six days to the journey between Asia and Europe.

It said time-sensitive cargo could be sent on trains and airplanes, although no decisions had yet been made.

The SCA, which had allowed some vessels to enter the canal in the hope the blockage could be cleared, said it had temporarily suspended all traffic on Thursday.

Maersk said in a customer advisory it had seven vessels affected.

Berdowski said the ship’s bow and stern had been lifted up against either side of the canal.

“It is like an enormous beached whale. It’s an enormous weight on the sand. We might have to work with a combination of reducing the weight by removing containers, oil and water from the ship, tug boats and dredging of sand.”

Dredging work to remove 15,000-20,000 cubic metres of sand surrounding the bow continued after dark on Thursday, in coordination with the team from Boskalis subsidiary Smit Salvage, the SCA said.

The dredging work, which began on Wednesday evening and has involved two dredgers, aims to return the ship to a draft of 12-16 metres at which it could be refloated, the authority said.

Japanese shipowner Shoei Kisen apologised for the incident and said work on freeing the ship, which was heading to Europe from China, “has been extremely difficult” and it was not clear when the vessel would float again.

Another official with knowledge of the operation said that was likely to take days. “If you end up in the scenario that you have to remove cargo then you are looking at a time consuming exercise,” he said, declining to be named.

A higher tide due on Sunday may help the rescue efforts.

However, the Egyptian meteorological authority is also warning of a “disruption of marine navigation” due to an expected sea storm on Saturday and Sunday, with winds forecast to reach up to 80 kph (50 mph) and waves up to 6 metres high along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez.

About 30 per cent of the world’s shipping container volume transits through the 193 km (120 mile) Suez Canal daily, and about 12 per cent of total global trade of all goods.

“Every port in Western Europe is going to feel this,” Leon Willems, a spokesman for Rotterdam Port, Europe’s largest, said. “We hope for both companies and consumers that it will be resolved soon.”

Consultancy Wood Mackenzie said the biggest impact was on container shipping, but there were also a total of 16 laden crude and product oil tankers due to sail through the canal and now delayed.

The tankers were carrying 870,000 tonnes of crude and 670,000 tonnes of clean oil products such as gasoline, naphtha and diesel, it said.

Russia and Saudi Arabia are the top two exporters of oil through the canal, while India and China are the main importers, oil analytics firm Vortexa said.

“The biggest fear of any vessel is remaining static. That’s going to start raising huge concerns for these shipping companies,” Joshua Hutchinson, general manager at ARX Mouldings said.

According to the International Maritime Bureau, politically motivated attacks on both sides of the Suez are a grave concern.

“Piracy is not an issue in that part of that world; terrorism is probably the biggest threat,” said Chris Long, intelligence director for Neptune P2P, a security consultancy focused on maritime safety.

Auto

Seven Drivers Emerge for Todays Naija Driver Challenge Grand Finale in Lagos

Published

14 hours ago

November 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Seven Drivers Emerge for Today’s Naija Driver Challenge Grand Finale in Lagos

The maiden Nigerian Drivers Challenge will reach its climax on Tuesday, November 10, with seven finalists set to compete for honours at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, in a contest aimed at promoting responsible driving, professionalism and improved road safety in Nigeria.

The grand finale, scheduled to begin at 9am, follows a nationwide response that saw 160 drivers register for the hybrid competition from 23 states of the federation.

The seven finalists emerged after preliminary assessments, including a proctored online Computer-Based Test (CBT), with participants required to attain a minimum pass mark of 60 per cent.

The final stage will feature practical driving assessments designed by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) to evaluate participants’ driving skills, vehicle control, road-use awareness and compliance with safety principles.

The eventual winner will be determined through a combination of CBT performance and practical assessment scores.

Organised to raise driving standards and promote safer roads, the Nigerian Drivers Challenge seeks to draw attention to the critical role of competent, disciplined and professionally trained motorists in reducing preventable road crashes.

The event is expected to attract representatives of government agencies, road safety institutions, automotive industry stakeholders, sponsors, the media and members of the public.

Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Project Director, Adrian Egonu, said the encouraging response to the maiden edition demonstrated the need for platforms that promote responsible motoring.

“The Nigerian Drivers Challenge was conceived out of a conviction that safer roads begin with responsible, competent and professional drivers,” Egonu said.

He added that the initiative was more than a driving competition, describing it as a platform for raising road safety consciousness, improving driving standards and celebrating excellence behind the wheel.

The Project’s Head of Administration, Modupeola A. Elegba, also expressed satisfaction with the feedback from participants, particularly those who completed the training and CBT stages.

She said the positive responses, including participants’ appreciation of the knowledge gained on safe road use and the competition’s seamless online platform, had encouraged the organisers to expand the initiative in subsequent editions.

The organisers acknowledged the support of institutional partners, including LASDRI, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria.

Sponsors include Skinetics Aesthetics Skin Care Clinic and Med Spa, BUA Cement, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc and AXA Mansard Health Ltd, while supporting organisations include the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and Work and Play.

The public, stakeholders and members of the media have been invited to attend the grand finale.

Auto

Four-day Abuja International Motor Fair begins tomorrow Nov 10

Published

1 day ago

November 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Four-day Abuja International Motor Fair begins tomorrow Nov 10

Nigeria’s automotive industry is set for a major convergence of manufacturers, investors, policymakers and technology players as the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair opens on November 10, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja, with a renewed focus on accelerating local production, investment and industry transformation.

The four-day exhibition, organised by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in partnership with BKG Exhibitions Limited, will bring together stakeholders across the automotive value chain, including vehicle manufacturers and assemblers, component producers, financial institutions, technology firms, transport operators, logistics companies and government agencies.

A major highlight will be a three-day industry conference themed, “Driving Nigeria’s Automotive Transformation: Policy, Production, and Prosperity.” The conference is expected to examine critical policy directions, investment opportunities, local manufacturing and emerging technologies shaping the future of Nigeria’s automotive sector.

In a statement, BKG Exhibitions said the conference would feature contributions from industry leaders and experts across relevant sectors.

Chairman of the Organising Committee and Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, said NADDC Director-General, Otunba Joseph Osanipin, would deliver the keynote address, alongside presentations by leading figures in the automotive and transport industries.

Agwu said the fair would offer participants opportunities to engage policymakers, investors and business executives while exploring new vehicles, technologies, products and investment prospects.

Other attractions include the Nigeria Automotive Excellence Awards Night, Abuja Automotive Road Show, Ultimate Test-Drive experience, exotic car displays and the Automotive and Future Mobility Arena.

The annual exhibition has established itself as a major platform for automotive business networking, product promotion and policy engagement, with this year’s edition expected to further advance conversations around investment, innovation, local production and sustainable industry growth.

Railway

Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration for Kaduna-Kano Rail Project as Construction Hits 90%

Published

1 day ago

November 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu Targets December 3 Inauguration for Kaduna-Kano Rail Project as Construction Hits 90%

The Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project has also reached 70 per cent completion, according to the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intensified efforts to complete major railway projects in Northern Nigeria, with the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Railway scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, stating that the 203-kilometre Kaduna-Zaria-Kano railway project had attained approximately 90 per cent completion.

The council also announced that the 400-kilometre Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project, which extends towards the Niger Republic, had reached 70 per cent completion.

According to the statement, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi project was barely five per cent complete when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while the Kaduna-Kano railway had achieved less than 30 per cent completion.

The projects, described as part of the administration’s major infrastructure initiatives, are expected to improve transportation, strengthen regional connectivity and facilitate the movement of passengers and goods across Northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

The Kaduna-Kano railway is an extension of the existing Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway and is expected to establish a continuous rail connection between Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano, linking major commercial centres in the region.

The council said the projects were recently inspected on the directive of President Tinubu by a Federal Government delegation led by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi.

The delegation reportedly expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the railway alignment, drainage infrastructure, embankment protection, stone pitching and soil stabilisation.

As part of the inspection, officials undertook a test-run journey by train from Jaji in Kaduna State to Kano to assess the completed track infrastructure and passenger comfort.

The statement added that Tinubu had directed the immediate resolution of outstanding land acquisition and compensation issues within Kaduna metropolis to facilitate the completion of the remaining railway corridor linking Abuja and Kano.

It further disclosed that the 190-kilometre Jaji-Kano section of the Kaduna-Kano railway, alongside the 250-kilometre Dawanu-Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Katsina section of the Kano-Maradi project, was scheduled for inauguration on December 3, 2026.

When fully operational, the Kaduna-Kano railway is expected to provide an alternative to road transportation, improve passenger movement and boost commercial activities along one of Northern Nigeria’s busiest economic corridors.

Similarly, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway is expected to strengthen cross-border transportation and trade between Nigeria and the neighbouring Republic of Niger.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council said the projects reflected Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that ongoing infrastructure developments across the country were completed as scheduled.