Efforts ramping up to unblock the Suez Canal

Two experienced marine salvage firms have been brought in to try and move the huge Ever Given container ship blocking the Suez Canal. Smit Salvage and Nippon Salvage are working to move the vessel in an effort that could take weeks. Read more: --- The Suez Canal stepped up efforts on Friday to free a stuck mega vessel, after an earlier attempt failed to end a blockage that has lifted shipping rates for fuel tankers and scrambled global supply chains for everything from grains to baby clothes. In Washington, the White House said the Biden administration was seeing the impact of the incident on energy markets and would respond to the situation if required. Shipping rates for oil product tankers have nearly doubled after the 400-meter (430-yard) long Ever Given ran aground in the vital trade waterway on Tuesday due to strong wind. E