While the current Suez Canal failed-handbrake-turn event is unfolding, I'd like to draw attention to the time 15 ships and their crews were stranded in the canal for 8 years starting 1967.

Background: back in the 50s Israel invaded the Sinai peninsula with the goal of opening a shipping lane blocked by Egypt since the start of the decade. Egypt were like 'no', but opened the Tiran Straits for the war's end

Fast forward to '67, the Egyptians are getting notions. The straits are to be closed again, and the Egyptian armies lines the Israeli border like an overpowered player on Civilization V. Israel being Israel bombed the living F out of their opponent before the first move.

Back and forth skirmishes ensued what is today known as the Six-Day-War, which of course, as you can tell, didn't last that long.

During this, the Suez Canal is conveniently placed between the nations, which both nations laying claim to the Sinai Peninsula.

In June of '67, 15 ships: 2 West German, 2 Swedish, 1 French, 4 UK, 2 US, and 4 other European, unfortunately chose this time to move through. I will mention that the canal is just under 200km long; it takes time to get through.

Around halfway through the journey, the Israelis launched their bombing runs on the Egyptian airfields and troops, turning the canal from transit area to a full blown warzone. You really didn't want to be here. A few hours after this, Egypt closed the canal.

Now; a closure wouldn't be long enough to halt the ships' exit. Though the new owners following the war weren't too keen on letting Egypt use the canal, and scuttled ships on either side of the canal, and destroyed bridges, rendering the canal impassable.

Whatever gaps that weren't plugged with huge walls of torn metal and concrete, were mined very extensively. That isn't a journey you'd like to take in a massive tanker, let alone a convoy of 15 of them.

At this time, the ships were blockaded from both sides by bitter rivals, blocked from exiting from both entrances by debris, and unable to dock on either side for fear of being shot or sunk. So, they did what was left: drop anchor and wait in Great Bitter Lake.

Now there's a whole load else going on outside our little river, namely the turmoil of the world's shipping industry now having to sail around AFRICA just to get to where the Suez Canal would normally drop you off - adding roughly an extra 8,000km on to journey.

After a good few months in isolation, the ships crews joined together in three clumped groups. Most of the crews were sent away, with a skeleton crew left behind for the ships, rotated after X many months by air because, you know, living on a container ship isn't all that fun.

The community of these ships started to show: a meeting on the MS Melampus, one of the UK ships, formed the 'Great Bitter Lake Association' aiming to have a regular life. And that's no understatement.

A yacht club was formed, the Bitter Lake Olympic Games were held in tandem with the Olympics in Mexico in '68. Soccer games were held on the largest ship, the UK MS Port Invercargill. A WG ship held church services every Sunday, while movie nights were held on the Bulgarian ship.

In typical Swedish fashion, the MS Killara had a swimming pool(!) used a lot by the sailors.

The French ship held a community garden, while the British held lifeboat races across the canal. In its own very wonky way, it was a mini community hell bent on making the most of it, despite some ships being on the opposite side of the ongoing Cold War.

Over the years stranded, the ships accumulated sand on its decks and surfaces, giving the cargo-ship-town thing the name 'Yellow Fleet'.

Fast forward to '73 and the two sides are at it again, with the Egyptians flipping the table first, before being pushed back. In the chaos, a missle hit one of the American ships, sending it to the bottom. Following this, a ceasefire was proposed, giving hope to the sailors.

Egypt began the cleanup operation which took two years, similar to a university house party. 8 years on the button when they entered on June 5th, 1975, the canal was reopened and the ships were given the all clear to leave.

After a journey of 8 years, 3 months and a bit, the only two water capable ships at this time - the West German MS Münsterland and MS Nordwind, arrived back into the R. Elbe to crowds of over 30,000, with leisure crafts dotting the waterway.

After all that, Israel gave the Sinai back to Egypt and Egypt said 'yeah you exist', the first Arab state to do so.

Interestingly, the handcrafted postage stamps used by the crews, recognised by the Egyptian postal service and used worldwide, have become collectors items and can still be attained.

And that's it, reminiscing the story of the Suez canal. Thank you for reading!

P.S, the Poles won the most games during the Olympics, if you wanted to know.

By the looks of things history is repeating itself, with Great Bitter Lake backed up to no end #Suez