Muddy the waters: Egyptian authorities struggle with Suez canal blockage

Few observers expect transparency about when the historic waterway will reopen

As a massive container ship ran aground and got stuck in one of the world's most vital routes, Egypt's initial response was characteristic silence, even as reports of the problem began to emerge publicly over 12 hours later.

For Egypt, the Suez canal is more than a trade route, it is a source of national pride and a vital source of foreign currency. But the fervour that surrounds the waterway combined with iron-fisted information control means that few observers expect transparency about the circumstances of the grounding or the timetable for the ship's rescue from the Egyptian authorities, which some estimate could take days or even weeks.