In Egypt, encouraging progress has been made in the rescue of the “Chang Chi”. Suez Canal authorities believe that the grounding was likely due to “technical failure” and “human error. Australian NGOs have been informed that at least 130,000 sheep and a large number of other animals are trapped in 20 cargo ships in these waters.
Egypt’s canal authorities have been busy with the evacuation of the giant container ship Ever Given after it ran aground in the Suez Canal on Tuesday. Sources on the scene say encouraging progress has been made in the rescue. Some people on Twitter reported that the Chang Chi had moved 17 meters, which is a good sign.
The number of cargo ships stuck in the Mediterranean and Red Sea at both ends of the canal has now exceeded 300, RFI-France reported on Sunday (March 28, 2021). General Général RABIE, head of the Egyptian Suez Canal Authority, revealed that the rudders of the ships buried in the sand on the west bank of the canal have responded after many days of dredging. The bow of the ship, which was deep in the east bank, also began to move slightly.
The owner of the “Chang Chi” called in the Dutch rescue company SMIT Salvage to the scene. A person in charge of this rescue company said that if all goes well, the huge ship is likely to resurface early next week.
Speculation on the cause of the grounding of the “Chang Chi”
On the cause of the accident, Egyptian General Rabi questioned the initial sandy winds that caused the accident: the wind was over 70 kilometers per hour. He believes that the cause was more likely a “technical fault” and “human error”.
In an interview with our RFI correspondent Franck Alexandre, a French Navy captain (Capitaine de vaisseau) explained: passing through the Suez Canal is a tricky operation that requires constant vigilance, especially in the wind. If the wind comes from the side of the ship, it can greatly reduce the ability to maneuver these vessels.
Ecological risks of the grounding of the “Chang Chi
“The grounding of the Chang Chi has caused more than 300 cargo ships to be blocked at both ends of the Suez Canal, at least 20 of which were carrying livestock and animals. Animal protection groups are concerned about future ecological risks.
Information on the Marine Cargo News website shows that more than a dozen cargo ships were carrying sheep and other animals. Animals Australia (Animals Australia) under the NGO ” International Animals ” (Animals International) pointed out that 11 cargo ships sailing from Romania carried 130,000 sheep, and another nine ships transported other animals. Three of the ships were trapped in the canal.
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