On Monday, the 200,000-ton Ever Given was finally unstuck from the banks of the Suez Canal. For the past week, the container ship had been blocking one of the world's busiest waterways, causing oil prices to rise and shipping companies around the world to frantically reassess their operations. The incident was holding up almost $10 billion in maritime trade a day. With the crisis now over, logistical workers can bid farewell to one of the strangest incidents that they have dealt with since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Comically, almost as soon as news broke of the Ever Given's release, #putitback started trending on social media, showingthe 150-year-old Suez Canal to be a surprising stage for a global spectacle.
The Ever Given is now free and normal service resumes on the Suez Canal, albeit with a big queue. AFP
Even as the vessel takes to open water, the story is not over
The Suez Canal is arguably the world's most important artificial waterway. It began as the ambition of a French diplomat and Egypt's ruling family in the 19th century. In the mid-20th century, the UK, France and Israel failed in an attempt to recapture it after the leader of Egypt's independence movement, Gamal Abdel Nasser, nationalised the passage. Nasser's victory made the canal a symbol of Egyptian independence, and a symbol of so many decolonisation movements to come. Now, the waterway enjoyed once again a moment as the world's most captivating story, during a year when breaking news has been mostly about illness, economic uncertainty, war and injustice. For a week, an entirely mundane piloting error – or a slightly too strong gust of wind, depending on what investigators conclude – created a measure of chaos normally reserved for more nefarious acts of geopolitics.
Delays and challenges are common in shipping. The vast majority of "crises" are the fodder of industry wonks, and a bore to everyone else. In the fog of tight timetables, international supply chains and thousands of private companies, what goes on in ports and international waters is important, but tedious.
But other crises in the shipping sector are universally distressing. The National has written, for example, about the hardship that mariners have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, as a growing number of companies around the world are going bankrupt, which can, in extreme cases, lead to sailors being stranded at sea in legal limbo. In other cases, PPE and other medical supplies have gone undelivered, escalating international tensions and undermining the fight against the pandemic.
The plight of the Ever Given was a crisis wedged firmly in between. The public response included concern, fascination and even laughter, but the world was also reminded that the mechanics of something so important as the global economy can hinge on even the smallest details.
The beginning of this saga was unprecedented and captivating. The middle was a race against time. And the conclusion seemed definitive, after a combined effort from Egypt and international partners, as well as 15 tugboats and a lone digger. Even as the Ever Given takes to open water, however, the story is not over. There will be investigations and fierce legal battles that could drag on for months, if not years, as the shipping company and the Canal Authority wrangle to assign responsibility. The end lesson may simply be that accidents happen. But even that will teach the world something.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
