Memes Flow as 'Tiny' Excavator Digs Out Container Ship Stuck in Suez Canal

If a face could launch a thousand ships, this ship had definitely launched a thousand memes.

The massive cargo ship that has been blocking the Suez Canal for days and triggering panic about its impact on the global economy is now being rescued--by a very tiny excavator.

According to a report published by Reuters on Thursday, March 25, the salvage company tasked to free the 400-meter (1,300-feet) long "Ever Given" said that it might take weeks to finish the job.

While officials stopped all ships from entering Suez Canal, the internet used this opportunity to produce a wave of hilarious memes.

The Tale of the 'Ever Given' and the Bulldozer

The awkward situation in which the "Ever Given" found itself gave birth to a myriad of memes, including some that relate to people's everyday lives.

Meanwhile, this particular Twitter user has a lot to unload.

Another user relates the Suez Canal drama to the recent pandemic.

Others try to offer suggestions to help speed up the rescue.

Political commentator Ben Shapiro also joined in the fun, using the Suez Canal incident take a swipe at the current administration.

One Twitter user felt that it is his duty to share this meme in particular.

Suez Canal Drama: So, What Now?

On Saturday, March 27, an article from BBC reported that Egypt's presidential adviser had his hopes up and believed that the issue would be resolved within two to three days.

However, chief engineer for Maersk Ohio Joe Reynolds said that while the efforts to set the "Ever Given" free drags on, the number of vessels lining up at the channel's southern entrance continue to "growing exponentially".

"It's going to affect shipping schedules around the world," he added.

An article from New York Times published on Thursday, March 25, reports that the Japanese company that owns "Ever Given" apologized for the unfortunate incident.

Shoei Kisen Kaisha acknowledged the company's fault in a statement on Thursday that the incident is "extremely difficult" to solve and assured that they would do their best to dislodge the ship.

Royal Boskalis Westminster, the Dutch salvage company working on the "Ever Given," explained the Suez Canal's current situation to New York Times.

The Dutch company's Chief Executive Peter Berdowski said that the "Ever Given" was stuck on both shallow sides of the narrow waterway.

Calling it a "very heavy beached whale," Berdowski said that the cargo ship is too heavy for tugboats alone, and the situation calls for more equipment and an extra workforce to finish the job.

"The more deeply the ship is stuck, the harder it is to lose weight, the more time it will take to free it," he said.

About 12% of the world's trade passes through the Suez Canal daily, and the incident could threaten the already-suffering economy the world is facing at the moment.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Lee Mercado