Giant ship blocking Suez Canal partially refloated amid hopes of unblocking waterway

The giant cargo carrier blocking the Suez Canal was partly refloated early Monday morning, nearly a week after it wedged sideways, threatening the world's global economy.

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi declared mission accomplished later in the day, saying in a statement that “Egyptians have succeeded today in ending the crisis of the stranded ship in the Suez Canal.”

He portrayed the efforts as a patriotic victory that assured the world that Egypt could be trusted with overseeing the 13 percent of all global trade that passes through the crucial waterway.

On the ground, the operation to fully free the vessel was still ongoing and appeared to be moving swiftly. The Suez Canal Authority said in a statement that the Ever Given had been 80 percent refloated, with the stern of the ship pulled away from the shore by roughly 334 feet. On Sunday, it was just 13 feet from the canal’s bank.

How did a ship get stuck in the Suez Canal?

Tugboats started their operations again during the day when the tide was at its height, potentially allowing the ship to be moved into the middle of the waterway. Their efforts were broadcast live on state television.

The chief of the Suez Canal Authority, Lt. Gen. Osama Rabie, said the waterway would be opened up to allow waiting ships to pass “immediately upon the complete restoration of the vessel’s direction.”