Research the 2021 Suez Canal obstruction. Describe what happened. Then identify
at least two human characteristics and two physical characteristics of the region
that caused the obstruction to occur. Finally, describe how these characteristics
caused the obstruction.
Description of the 2021 Suez Canal obstruction:
List at least two human characteristics and two physical characteristics that caused
the obstruction to occur:
In detail, describe how the characteristics caused or influenced the Suez Canal
obstruction:
The 2021 Suez Canal obstruction occurred when a 400-meter-long container ship called the Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal on March 23, 2021. This incident caused a significant disruption in global maritime trade, as the Suez Canal is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
Human characteristics that caused the obstruction:
1. Human error: The primary cause of the obstruction was likely human error in navigating the ship. While the exact details are still under investigation, it appears that a combination of strong winds, low visibility, and misjudgment led to the ship deviating from its course and getting stuck in the sandy banks of the canal.
2. Lack of contingency measures: The Suez Canal Authority's response to the obstruction highlighted the lack of preparedness for such incidents. Although the blockage was cleared after six days, it demonstrated a lack of effective contingency plans and equipment to handle large-scale disruptions, further delaying the ship's removal and causing significant economic losses.
Physical characteristics that caused the obstruction:
1. Narrow and shallow canal: The Suez Canal is about 205 meters wide at its narrowest point, which poses challenges for large ships to maneuver through it. Moreover, the canal has a maximum depth of about 24 meters, making it susceptible to grounding when vessels deviate from the center of the channel.
2. Sandy soil conditions: The Suez Canal passes through the relatively sandy and unstable terrain of the Sinai Peninsula. When the container ship ran aground, its weight caused it to excavate the sandy banks, making it even harder to dislodge. The soft and malleable soil conditions significantly complicated the salvage operation.
These characteristics caused the obstruction as the combination of strong winds, low visibility, human error, and sandy soil led the Ever Given to veer off course and ultimately run aground. The narrow and shallow dimensions of the canal, combined with the sandy soil, made it challenging to free the ship quickly. Additionally, the lack of robust contingency measures exacerbated the situation and prolonged the blockage.