A large shipping container has blocked Egypt’s Suez Canal, causing a traffic jam of ships, vessel tracking websites show.

The ship, called Ever Given, reportedly ran aground while turning in the narrow shipping channel around 7.40am on Tuesday.

Several tugs have surrounded the vessel, operated by transport company Evergreen Marine, in a bid to move it.

An official reportedly told local news outlet Cairo24 that the process of moving it could take up to two days.

The three-year-old cargo ship, which is registered in Panama, was on its way to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, from China, when it became stuck.

The busy Egyptian shipping lane connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, and is the quickest maritime link between Asia and Europe.

Julianne Cona, who is on the vessel behind – the American-registered Maersk Denver – said the Ever Given was stuck sideways.

A post shared by Julianne Cona (@fallenhearts17)

On Instagram she wrote: “Ship in front of us ran aground while going through the canal and is now stuck sideways looks like we might be here for a little bit.”

The waterway, which is around 193km (120 miles) long, was built by the Suez Canal Company between 1859 and 1869 – officially opening in 1869.

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