The blockage of the Suez Canal could last for weeks. Already, hundreds of ships are facing serious delays because they have to wait or reroute via South Africa. Time is running out, as more than 321 vessels are now waiting for passage near Port Said at the northern entrance of the canal.
On twenty of the waiting ships, there are reportedly live livestock animals. It is not yet clear whether there is sufficient feed and water for the animals on board. Usually, the large livestock carriers and shipping companies have some flexibility in their schedules, but a prolonged blockage of the Suez Canal was not anticipated.
Just last week, the Party for the Animals once again urged a total ban on animal exports to countries outside the European Union. “Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for hundreds to thousands of animals to die during sea transports.
Promotion
Transports to Africa and the Middle East take weeks. There are also more frequent disturbances and accidents. We need to stop this kind of transport,” said Dutch Member of the European Parliament Anja Hazekamp.
The European Commission previously announced that it wants to start adjusting EU rules on animal transports in 2023, but says it cannot take measures against long-distance transports in the meantime. The Netherlands also still transports thousands of animals annually to distant destinations by sea, as recent figures from the NVWA showed.
Over the past weekend, efforts to free the stranded container ship in the Suez Canal have not yet succeeded. Attempts will now be made to move the 400-meter-long container vessel using dredging operations and two additional tugboats. Shipping traffic is blocked in both directions. The EVER GIVEN is en route from Yantian, China, to Rotterdam.
Global trade threatens to be severely disrupted by the canal blockade. The ship is reportedly holding back nearly 10 billion dollars worth of trade each day, according to estimates from shipping expert Lloyd’s List. That amount adds up daily…
The longer the blockage continues, the greater the risk of economic problems such as empty store shelves. “Retailers and shopkeepers do not always keep stock of large items and some seasonal products, such as electric bicycles, refrigerators, or garden furniture,” ING economist Rico Luman said Wednesday to NU.nl. Much of this wholesale supply comes from China.