Suez canal: race to free 'beached whale' container ship enters third day

Head of dredging company says Ever Given is stuck on the sand and containers may have to be unloaded, a process that could take weeks

The mission to unblock the Suez canal after a vast container ship became wedged has entered its third day, as pressure builds on authorities to get one of the world's key trade arteries flowing again.

Efforts to refloat the 220,000-ton, 400-metre-long Ever Given resumed on Thursday after a brief overnight suspension, amid fears the operation could potentially take weeks if the vessel needs to be unloaded.