50 days after the Ever Given blocked the Suez canal, supply chains still have not recovered
Alex Hersham is the CEO and co-founder of Zencargo
SUEZ, EGYPT - MARCH 29: The container ship 'Ever Given' is refloated, unblocking the Suez Canal on March 29, 2021 in Suez, Egypt. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images)
On the 29th of March, tug boats and dredgers freed the Ever Given from the banks of the Suez Canal. In just six days the blockage obstructed over $60 billion of global trade, sending disruptive ripples to every corner of the world.
The beached container ship, weighing in at 220,000 tonnes and longer than the Empire State Building is tall, became an instant focus for the international media. Wedged across the canal, surrounded by comparatively tiny diggers attempting to dislodge it, the ship became a social media phenomenon. By blocking one of the world’s most important trade arteries, the Ever Given placed the global supply chain, so often overlooked, into the spotlight. For many consumers, it was the first time they had truly considered the complex ecosystem that delivers goods to our doorsteps at the click of a button.