Cairo, Aug 21 (IANS): The Panamanian-flagged and Japanese-owned ship Ever Given has crossed the Suez Canal for the first time since it blocked the vital waterway for six days in March, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said in a statement.
"The 400-metre, 220,000-ton container ship that was docked at the UK port of Felixstowe, has returned to Port Said on Thursday night," said the statement issued on FRiday.
"Accompanied by two tug boats and most professional guides, all security measures were taken to ensure the safe crossing of the ship," Xinhua news agency quoted the SCA as further saying.
The ship ran aground in Egypt's Suez Canal and jammed global shipping traffic for nearly a week until it was refloated on March 29 by a fleet of Egyptian tugboats and diggers.
The ship was seized for more than three months until the SAC and ship owner reached a deal in July allowing the vessel to leave Egyptian waters.