Tanker Breakdown in Suez Canal Briefly Slows Global Trade

A tanker carrying crude oil suffered a mechanical failure in Egypt's Suez Canal, temporarily blocking other ships from transiting part of the waterway.
Eight vessels were delayed behind the disabled tanker until it was towed to a wider channel, allowing traffic to resume as normal.
The Suez Canal is a vital route for oil, natural gas and cargo shipments, with about 10% of the word's trade passing through it.
Three tugboats towed the Malta-flagged tanker to a wider point in the canal so other ships could get by.
Details on what caused the tanker's malfunction were not released, though the crew was working to repair it.