In March 2021, the grounding of the container ship Ever Given in the Suez Canal became one of the most significant disruptions to global trade in recent history. Cairo-based documentary photographers Georges and Samuel Mohsen were among the first to closely document the incident, providing rare on-the-ground coverage of the crisis in Egypt. Their photographs highlighted not only the massive scale of the stranded vessel but also the human dimension of an event that paralyzed one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
The Ever Given, one of the world’s largest container ships, ran aground during high winds and poor visibility, blocking the canal diagonally and halting all traffic for six days. The Suez Canal, which carries nearly 12% of global trade, was brought to a standstill. Hundreds of vessels carrying goods ranging from crude oil and manufactured products to livestock were trapped, creating unprecedented logistical and financial strain.
Financial Losses
The blockage disrupted an estimated $9–10 billion worth of trade daily, or roughly $400 million per hour.
Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority lost around $15 million per day in transit fees, while international insurers faced claims amounting to hundreds of millions.
Supply Chain Disruptions
The incident exposed the fragility of global supply chains, delaying critical shipments of raw materials, fuel, and consumer goods.
Container shipping costs surged dramatically, with the price of moving a 40-foot container rising nearly fourfold compared to the previous year.
Alternative Routes and Rising Costs
Some vessels were rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope, extending voyages by up to two weeks and significantly increasing fuel expenses.
These diversions further amplified shipping delays and inflationary pressures in global markets.
Local and Social Effects
While the crisis dominated international headlines, its impact was also deeply local. Canal pilots, fishermen, shopkeepers, and service providers along the Suez saw immediate losses in income during the shutdown.
The Ever Given crisis underscored the vulnerability of global trade to disruptions at key chokepoints such as the Suez Canal. It prompted renewed calls for investment in resilient supply chains, the modernization of maritime infrastructure, and contingency planning for international logistics.
The 2021 Suez Canal blockage was both an economic shock and a human story. Through their early documentation, Georges and Samuel Mohsen established themselves among the first photographers to capture the reality of the crisis from Egypt. Their work provided a vital visual record of how a single event in the Suez Canal rippled through local communities and the global economy, reinforcing the importance of documentary photography in shaping collective understanding of world events.eople whose lives are directly tied to the canal.
published work about this event in different international news media
Photography by Egyptian documentary photographers Georges & Samuel (The GS Studio)
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