Question 1
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:
On March 23, 2021, a large container ship named Ever Given became lodged and stuck in the Suez Canal, blocking the passage for several days. The ship, which measures approximately 400 meters long and weighs over 200,000 tons, was en route from China to the Netherlands. Due to strong winds and a sandstorm, the ship lost control and veered sideways, ultimately running aground on both sides of the canal.
Human characteristics that caused the obstruction:
1. Increased globalization: The global demand for goods and the growth of international trade have led to a significant increase in the size of container ships. The Ever Given is one such example, being one of the largest ships in the world. The reliance on these massive vessels to transport goods efficiently and in bulk also increases the risks associated with potential accidents or obstructions in major waterways like the Suez Canal.
2. The importance of the Suez Canal as a trade route: The Suez Canal is a vital maritime trade route connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, providing a crucial shortcut for ships traveling between Europe and Asia. It is estimated that around 12% of the global trade volume passes through the canal annually. The high volume of traffic and the narrowness of the canal can make it vulnerable to such obstructive incidents.
Physical characteristics that caused the obstruction:
1. Strong winds and sandstorms: The Suez Canal region experiences occasional periods of strong winds and sandstorms, particularly during the transitional seasons of spring and fall. These weather conditions can reduce visibility and make it challenging for large ships to navigate safely through the narrow canal. In the case of the Ever Given, it is believed that strong winds and a sandstorm contributed to the ship losing control and subsequently getting stuck.
2. Narrowness and shallowness of the canal: The Suez Canal has a limited width and depth compared to the size of modern container ships. It measures around 205 meters wide at its narrowest point and has a depth of approximately 24 meters. This narrowness and relative shallowness can pose challenges to navigation, especially for larger vessels. In the case of the Ever Given, its immense size and the strong winds made it difficult for the ship to maintain its course, resulting in it running aground and blocking the canal.
These characteristics caused the obstruction by creating a combination of factors. The strong winds and sandstorm affected the ship's maneuverability, leading to a loss of control. The narrowness and shallow depth of the canal amplified the consequences of the ship drifting off course, as there was limited space for it to correct its direction. Moreover, the reliance on large container ships for efficient global trade contributed to the severity of the obstruction, as a smaller vessel may have been able to navigate through the canal more easily.