According to shipping firm Leth Agencies, a ship that became stranded in the Suez Canal has been refloated.

Tugboats had been working to refloat the bulk ship, Xin Hai Tong 23, the business had previously stated.

The Suez Canal Authority did not react immediately to a request for comment from the BBC.

The Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest waterways, was closed for over a week two years ago after a massive container ship became stranded.

“The Suez Canal Authority has successfully refloated M/V XIN HAI TONG 23 at 0740hrs,” Leth tweeted.

According to the Marine Traffic ship tracker, the ship, which sails under the Hong Kong flag, was “not under command” near the canal’s southern end, positioned at an angle next to the canal’s eastern side.

The tracker also revealed that three Egyptian tugboats were circling the ship.

In 2021, the Ever Given, one of the world’s largest container ships, stopped the canal for six days, hurting global trade.

The ship, which was managed by the Taiwanese company Evergreen Marine, caused a backlog of hundreds of vessels attempting to access the channel.

How can the world’s largest cargo ships be rescued?
Last year, tugboats refloated an oil tanker that became stranded in the canal due to a rudder malfunction.

A container ship broke down in the canal in March of this year, causing minor delays.