(CNN) – A spokesman for the Suez Canal Authority told CNN that the ship, which was closing the Suez Canal, was fully released Monday afternoon.
The tugs were working to free the ship’s bow after successfully freeing the stern on Monday morning.
Sea traffic sites have shown pictures of the ship off the banks of the Suez Canal for the first time in seven days.
“Yeah!” A Boskalis spokesman for the ship’s rescue, Martin Schottiver, said when asked by CNN if the ship was free.
Egyptian state television showed the ship in full float.
Agence France-Presse via Getty Images
Ships from around the world carrying vital fuel and cargo have been unable to enter the canal for several days, raising concerns about the impact on global supply chains.
“We did so!” Said the rescue company, which assisted in efforts to free a ship blocking the Suez Canal, in a statement.
Boskalis announces a successful rescue operation of a 20,000 TEU container ship introduced in the Suez Canal. Approximately 400 meters long and 60 meters wide, this gigantic vessel has been anchored to this vital transportation route since March 23, 2021, disrupting all marine traffic since then.
The government-owned Al-Ahram newspaper quoted Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority, that the ship is currently being towed to Great Peter Lake, where it will be stopped for inspection and investigation.
The marine traffic showed that the ship was moving at 1.5 knots north towards the lake.
(Mahmoud Khaled / Getty Images)