In this episode 1 - "Customs Cut - Part 1" we explore the dramatic events of March 23rd, 2021, when the Ever Given container ship blocked the Suez Canal, a critical route for over 12% of global trade. As the ship lay wedged sideways, it became a symbol of the vulnerabilities in our global supply chains.

Host Odiche takes us through the cascading consequences of this incident, as over 400 vessels found themselves stranded, and ports around the world faced unprecedented congestion. The blockage not only halted goods flow, but it also sparked a global discussion on supply chain resilience, just-in-time inventory, and the need for technological innovation in logistics.

As the world held its breath, the efforts to free the ship revealed the sheer complexity of modern trade and reiterated the importance of strategic preparedness. This episode also delves into the longer-term impacts of the incident and how it inadvertently "unblocked" critical conversations about improving the robustness of international commerce networks.