Suez Canal reopens to very large ships

The Suez Canal has reopened to very large vessels including supertankers after the authorities introduced special procedures in the deeper eastern channel, which is partially blocked by a sunken dredger. The authority had earlier turned away 10 large vessels because they were too big to go through the western channel activated since the dredger sank on Wednesday, said a Suez Canal Authority official. The dredger has not been removed but the eastern channel of the canal, which can take ships with a draft up to 62 feet, has been reopened to large vessels, he added. The vessels will have to sail slowly and carry senior pilots from the authority. The site of the sunken dredger has been marked by signs to warn approaching ships.