Children celebrate after the Ever Given container ship was freed in the Suez Canal on Monday, March 29.
In pictures: Container ship freed in Suez Canal
Children celebrate after the Ever Given container ship was freed in the Suez Canal on Monday, March 29.
Ahmad Hassan/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 8:29 PM EDT, Mon March 29, 2021

A massive container ship got stuck in Egypt's Suez Canal on Tuesday, March 23, halting marine traffic for almost a week.

The ship, a vessel named the Ever Given, was fully dislodged and refloated six days later. It had run aground after strong winds and a sandstorm caused low visibility and poor navigation, the Suez Canal Authority said. The ship was en route to the Dutch port of Rotterdam when it was knocked off course.

The Ever Given, at 400 meters (1,312 feet), is almost as long as the Empire State Building is tall.

The Suez Canal is one of the busiest waterways in the world. It accounts for about 30% of global container ship traffic each day, according to the Reuters news agency.

This satellite image was taken on Monday after the ship was dislodged.
This satellite image was taken on Monday after the ship was dislodged.
European Space Imaging
The Ever Given is accompanied by tugboats as it moves through the canal on Monday.
The Ever Given is accompanied by tugboats as it moves through the canal on Monday.
Suez Canal Authority/AP
People watch the newly refloated Ever Given on Monday.
People watch the newly refloated Ever Given on Monday.
Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images
This satellite image shows the ship stuck in the Suez Canal on Sunday.
This satellite image shows the ship stuck in the Suez Canal on Sunday.
Maxar Technologies/AP
Tugboats try to free the ship on Sunday.
Tugboats try to free the ship on Sunday.
Suez Canal Authority/EPA-EFA/Shutterstock
Workers try to dislodge the ship on Sunday.
Workers try to dislodge the ship on Sunday.
Suez Canal Authority/EPA-EFA/Shutterstock
A tugboat operates on the Ever Given on Sunday.
A tugboat operates on the Ever Given on Sunday.
Suez Canal Authority/EPA-EFA/Shutterstock
A woman walks with children near the ship on Saturday.
A woman walks with children near the ship on Saturday.
Ahmad Hassan/AFP/Getty Images
A nighttime view of the massive container ship on Saturday.
A nighttime view of the massive container ship on Saturday.
Fadell Dawod/picture alliance/Getty Images
A boy watches a couple of tugboats trying to free the Ever Given on Friday.
A boy watches a couple of tugboats trying to free the Ever Given on Friday.
Samuel Mohsen/p\icture-alliance/dpa/AP
The enormous ship can hold up to 20,000 containers.
The enormous ship can hold up to 20,000 containers.
Samuel Mohsen/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
A tugboat works alongside the Ever Given on Friday.
A tugboat works alongside the Ever Given on Friday.
Samuel Mohsen/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Ships anchored outside the Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt, on Thursday. Ships couldn't get through while the Ever Given was blocking the route.
Ships anchored outside the Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt, on Thursday. Ships couldn't get through while the Ever Given was blocking the route.
Khaled Elfiqi/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
An excavator removes mud and sand from around the bow of the Ever Given on Thursday.
An excavator removes mud and sand from around the bow of the Ever Given on Thursday.
Picture-alliance/DPA/AP
Ships wait in Egypt's Great Bitter Lake on Thursday.
Ships wait in Egypt's Great Bitter Lake on Thursday.
© Cnes 2021, Distribution Airbus
Lt. Gen. Ossama Rabei, the head of the Suez Canal Authority, watches the Ever Given from another vessel on Thursday.
Lt. Gen. Ossama Rabei, the head of the Suez Canal Authority, watches the Ever Given from another vessel on Thursday.
Suez Canal Authority/AP
Tugboats sit alongside the Ever Given on Thursday.
Tugboats sit alongside the Ever Given on Thursday.
Suez Canal Authority/AP
This satellite image shows the blocked canal on Thursday.
This satellite image shows the blocked canal on Thursday.
© Cnes 2021, Distribution Airbus DS
The Ever Given's bow is wedged in the mud and sand along the banks of the canal n Wednesday.
The Ever Given's bow is wedged in the mud and sand along the banks of the canal n Wednesday.
Suez Canal Authority/AP
At 1,312 feet, the Ever Given is almost as long as the Empire State Building.
At 1,312 feet, the Ever Given is almost as long as the Empire State Building.
Suez Canal Authority/AFP/Getty Images