Four years since history’s most expensive traffic jam.

The March 2021 Suez Canal blockade once again demonstrated that a significant part of world trade is carried out through this waterway. The incident occurred as a result of the large container ship “Ever Given” running aground in the canal, which had a serious impact on global trade flows.

This incident attracted worldwide attention and became one of the most striking examples of the vulnerability of global supply chains. March 23, 2025, marks the 4th anniversary of this blockade, and although the consequences of the incident have long since been eliminated, it is important to look back and assess what has changed in the meantime”

Strategic importance of Suez Canal. The main artery of world trade

The Suez Canal is a man-made waterway that plays a critical role in world trade. Opened in 1869, the canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, significantly shortening the sea route between Europe and Asia.

Approximately 12% of world trade passes through Suez Canal
The canal allows ships to bypass Africa and save hundreds of nautical miles, and is a vital artery for international trade.

In early 2021, an average of 50 ships passed through the canal daily. The canal’s importance means that any problems there have an immediate impact on global trade.

Blocking of the Suez Canal by the “Ever Given” ship

On March 23, 2021, Evergreen Line’s Ever Given, one of the world’s largest container ships, lost control and ran aground in the canal due to strong winds and sandstorms. Ever Given is a 400-meter-long container ship weighing more than 200,000 tons.

The bow of the ship hit the east bank of the canal and the stern hit the west bank, completely blocking the canal. This situation caused the movement of hundreds of container ships, tankers and other types of ships in both directions along the canal to stop.

Global effects of the blockade.

The closure of the Suez Canal caused serious delays and economic losses in global trade flows.

This blockade had a serious impact on world trade:

• It cost global trade $9.6 billion per day, or about $400 million per hour. The ship’s blockage slowed down the transportation of goods and caused major problems in the logistics sector.
• The oil and natural gas markets were immediately affected by this incident. This incident in the Suez Canal caused a 4-5% increase in oil prices in global energy markets. Because many oil tankers were passing through this canal to supply fuel to Europe and Asia.
• There were serious disruptions in the production chain as shipments between Europe and Asia were delayed.

Measures taken to free the ship

The Egyptian government and the Suez Canal Authority mobilized rescue teams immediately after the incident.

• Large excavators and tugboats were used to excavate the soil and move the ship. In addition, unloading the ship was also discussed, but this was considered a last resort
• Various technical methods were used to slowly move the ship while waiting for the water level to rise
• On March 29, 2021, after approximately 6 days of intensive work, the ship was successfully freed and the canal was reopened to the passage of commercial vessels.

The Ever Given incident and the causes of the congestion

Strong winds and sand storms are the main cause of the incident. As a result of the ship getting out of control and getting stuck on both banks of the channel, the movement was completely stopped.

Measures taken to prevent such incidents in the future

The Suez Canal has been the subject of much research, and the international community has learned several important lessons from this incident.

1. Need for route diversification: Many companies have begun to look for alternative routes for supplies so as not to depend on one waterway. This has led to increased interest in other canals, as well as the development of more flexible logistics solutions.
2. Improving Canal Infrastructure: In response to the incident, work was undertaken to widen and deepen the Suez Canal to reduce the likelihood of repeated blockages. This has also helped improve navigation for larger vessels.
3. Role of Technology in Risk Management: The use of advanced technologies such as monitoring systems, satellite data, and artificial intelligence to predict and manage risks has become more relevant. These technologies can significantly improve vessel monitoring processes and enhance safety on key routes.
4. Importance of Strategic Reserves: Companies have begun to consider the importance of creating strategic reserves to deal with such events. This involves stockpiling goods and raw materials in different parts of the world to minimize the impact of sudden crises on the business.

The Suez Canal standoff was another reminder of how interconnected world trade is, and how a problem at any part of the logistics chain can have global repercussions.

Today, after 4 years from the incident, the Suez Canal continues to be an important element of global trade. Despite improvements and measures taken to improve infrastructure and security, the risks associated with global dependence on key trade routes remain.

In the future, we will likely see further efforts to modernize transport infrastructure, as well as the development of technologies that will help prevent similar incidents. However, it is important to remember that no system can be completely immune to human error or natural factors, and in such cases, flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to new conditions will play a decisive role.