Suez Canal says 81 ships transit in both directions on Wednesday

FILE PHOTO: Ships are seen after sailing through Suez Canal as traffic resumes after a container ship that blocked the waterway was refloated, in Ismailia, Egypt, March 30, 2021. REUTERS/Hanaa Habib/File Photo

CAIRO (Reuters) - The Suez Canal said the total number of ships transiting the waterway in both directions on Wednesday was 81 as the waterway tries to clear a backlog caused by the grounding of a container ship last week.

Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie said the canal was working round the clock to deal with the build-up.