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Boat blocking Florida highway sparks viral comparison to Suez Canal situation

by Brooke Seipel - 03/26/21 1:31 PM ET

A boat that fell onto a Florida interstate, briefly blocking traffic, is drawing a viral comparison to the Ever Given, the massive cargo ship that has been stuck in the Suez Canal and is blocking major shipping traffic.

The Orlando Sentinel first reported that Florida Highway Patrol worked late Thursday night to remove a boat that fell onto Interstate 10, briefly blocking traffic.

The boat was quickly removed and did not cause any injuries, but the moment sparked jokes online about a boat uprising as the story of the Ever Given has drawn international attention and turned into the meme of the moment.

The boats have organized and are striking https://t.co/fK59IjvQIQ

— Katelyn Burns (@transscribe) March 26, 2021

ok boats needs to calm the fuck down https://t.co/mtCqTrzzR2

— Fred Delicious (@Fred_Delicious) March 26, 2021

i really did not expect this many boat related inconveniences in 2021 https://t.co/743REr3PYT

— eric curtin (@dubstep4dads) March 26, 2021

48 hours and there’s already a Suez Canal cosplay https://t.co/UGFrEcBrhm

— Anna Gallegos-Cannon (@anna_gallegos) March 26, 2021

2021: The Year the Boats Fought Back https://t.co/EP1s4IGGXt

— Mark Gongloff (@markgongloff) March 26, 2021

One more boat makes a trend https://t.co/El0Bq4WDWb

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) March 26, 2021

Shipping on the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest waterways, was halted on Tuesday when the Ever Given got stuck and blocked traffic. Tugboats and an excavator have been employed to help free the ship, but as of early Friday afternoon, the boat was still stuck.

Experts warn the delays being caused by the blockage are serious and will likely have repercussions that extend weeks. It adds to the current shipping problems and a shipping container shortage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and one company has even warned the issue could lead to a toilet paper shortage.

On Friday, the U.S. government said it had offered help with the situation in the Suez Canal.

Tags Boat ever given Florida Highway meme Suez Canal Viral