Thread by @typesfast

Since the Suez Canal is the news, it's a good moment to share some history: From 1967 to 1975 the canal was intentionally blocked by the Egyptian military (using ships and naval mines) in response to the Israeli seizure of the Sini Peninsula during the Six-Day War.

When the canal was closed, 15 ships (part of a southbound convoy) became stuck in the Great Bitter Lake portion of the canal and remained there for the full eight years!

Crews were eventually reduced and rotated but the “Yellow Fleet”, as they became known due to being covered in dust, remained as staffed, operational vessels.

But why? The crew were free to leave the ships, after all. Well, it all comes down to insurance!

If the crews had left the ships, they would have become considered abandoned under international maritime law. If you abandon a vessel, you no longer have claim to the vessel or its cargo and salvage laws take effect.

So enough crew remained in order to prevent loss, keep the ships floating, and maintain claim to the cargo.

If they had abandoned the cargo to salvage the consignees, suppliers, and vessel owners would not have been able to make insurance claims against potential damage or loss. (It also served as a form of protest. You do have ways to reestablish claim but it is not easy.)

When the canal reopened only two ships could leave under their own power, several had to be surveyed and salvaged in place, others were somewhere in between.

In general though, when the surveyors inspected the cargo, they were very shocked to find that it was all still in very good condition.

Also a fun fact. The multinational crews maintained their own social club and even hosted their own olympics to help pass the time.

Hat tip to Flexport's own @navystrang for teaching me this history!

@NavyStrang Like learning stories like this? Come work at Flexport.com, we live and breath the wild and wacky (and vitally important) world of global logistics and international trade every single day.