The accident of the Ever Given, a container ship operated by Evergreen Marine, is currently causing long backups on the Suez Canal, preventing ships from passing through and already causing massive delays on the busy waterway.

We are currently closely monitoring the efforts to get the wrecked vessel maneuverable again, thereby restoring the navigability of both the southbound and northbound services. According to ship operator Maersk, an estimated number of two hundred ships are already caught up in the traffic snarl in both directions of this global trade artery, which carries about 12% of global trade.

At the moment, every effort is being made to move northbound vessels out of the canal to allow free passage and continuous convoys once the Evergreen vessel is fit to sail again. The Suez Canal Authority will also send 13 smaller vessels to Great Bitter Lake (Ismailia) to minimize the number of vessels waiting for anchorage at Port Said/Suez.

All customers whose cargo is affected by the current situation will receive detailed information from us about possible schedule changes and alternative options, we can provide you. Although we have no control over the situation, we apologize for any inconvenience this incident may cause your business, and we will do our utmost to avert delay as best we can. Your supply chain is very important to us, and we will continue to keep you informed of any developments.

In case of any question, please contact your local customer service, your Hellmann sales representative, and/or our Sea Freight Management.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We look forward to working with you in the future.

Best regards,
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics