How to dislodge a 200,000-ton ship from a canal wall

The MV Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal after a gust of wind blew it off course, bringing marine traffic to a halt along one of the world's busiest trade routes. Photo: AFP

When you can’t shift a ship that’s stuck fast into the wall of a canal that’s vital to world trade, there’s only one thing to do: call the salvage guys.

The Ever Given container ship – a 200,000-ton behemoth – has been blocking what is arguably the world’s most important waterway, the Suez Canal, since Tuesday morning.