Grounded ship successfully refloated in Suez Canal 

A ship that had been grounded in the Suez Canal has been successfully refloated, according to shipping agent Leth Agencies. 

Tugboats were brought in to help assist in refloating the ship, named Xin Hai Tong 23. 

“The Suez Canal Authority has successfully refloated M/V XIN HAI TONG 23 at 0740hrs,” Leth said in a tweet.

The ship sails under the Hong Kong flag had been “not under command” near the southern end of the canal, positioned at an angle next to the canal’s eastern side, according to the Marine Traffic ship tracker.

It’s not the first time the Suez Canal – one of the busiest waterways in the world – has been blocked. 

Two years ago, the canal was impassable for almost a week after a giant container ship, Ever Give, became stuck. The blocking caused a backlog of vessels. Last year an oil tanker also experienced a temporary stranding in the canal but was refloated with the help of tugboats.