ISMAILIA: The 400-metre (1312-foot) long container ship, Ever Given, which measures slightly taller than the Empire State Building in New York City, and had initially became stuck in the Suez Canal on March 23 was successfully re-floated at 4.30 am (local time) on Monday.

Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), made the announcement that the Panamanian container ship has been successfully refloated. 

"This was the result of successful push and tow manoeuvres which led to the restoration of 80% of the vessel’s direction; with the stern 102 m. away from the bank of the Canal now instead of 4 m. prior to the refloating," he said. 

Manoeuvres are set to be resumed once more during high tide as it shall reach 2 m, allowing for the full restoration of the vessel’s direction so it is positioned in the middle of the navigable waterway.

Rabie, said he wanted to reassure the international navigation society as navigation shall be resumed immediately upon the complete restoration of the vessel’s direction and directing it to the Bitter Lakes waiting area for technical inspection.

The Ever Given, one of the largest container ships ever built was passing through the Suez Canal on its way to Rotterdam from Tanjung Pelepaswhen it became stuck near the village of Manshiyet Rugola and blocked the canal on 23 March.

After being hit by a sudden strong wind, it caused the hull to deviate from the waterway and accidentally hit the bottom ending up with its bow wedged in one bank of the canal and stern nearly touching the other.

The Suez Canal links the Mediterranean with the Red Sea and shipping lanes to Asia, making it one of the most important waterways in the world.

The blocking of Egypt's Suez Canal had caused backing up hundreds of vessels and disrupting global trade, causing a growing traffic jam of vessels and a huge impact on global trade. Some tankers have already opted to travel around the southern tip of Africa instead, adding weeks to their journeys, through a region known for piracy.