Container ship trapped in the Suez Canal

A large container ship was trapped in the Suez Canal in Egypt on Tuesday, March 23, disrupting sea traffic on one of the busiest waterways in the world.

The ship, a ship called Ever Given, ran aground after high winds and a sandstorm caused poor visibility and poor navigation, the Suez Canal Authority said in a statement. The ship was en route to the Dutch point of Rotterdam when it was diverted off course.

The Ever Given, at 400 meters (1,312 feet), is almost as long as the Empire State Building is tall.

The Suez Canal accounts for about 30% of global container ship traffic every day, according to the Reuters news agency. Experts fear that if Ever Given is not released soon, the stalemate could impact the oil market, shipping and container fees, leading to an increase in the cost of everyday products.