Suez Canal: Golf course's giant T. rex 'stuck' on Ever Given

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Jurassic Links Adventure Golf courseImage source, Kingsway Golf Centre
Image caption,

The Jurassic Links Adventure Golf course opened for business on Monday

A giant Tyrannosaurus rex model has been held up in the Suez canal blockage on its way to a newly opened adventure golf course.

The 10m (32ft) centrepiece for the Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn near Cambridge is currently on the Ever Given cargo ship in Egypt.

The vessel has been anchored in the Great Bitter Lake, the canal's midway point, since being refloated on Monday.

James Watts, from the course, said he had "no idea" when it would arrive.

He said the T. rex, named Dino, was commissioned back in September and it was due to arrive in early April, as first reported in the Cambridge Independent, external.

Image source, Kingsway Golf Centre
Image caption,

The course is also waiting for a 4m (13ft) wide pterodactyl that will be placed on top of this cage

Dino's pterodactyl friend is also stuck on the 400m-long (1,312ft), 220,000-tonne ship.

The Ever Given became wedged diagonally across the waterway on 23 March after running aground amid high winds and a sandstorm.

Image source, Kingsway Golf Centre
Image caption,

The T. rex will be one of 12 dinosaurs at the park and will be situated near the 17th and 18th holes

It was freed after a major salvage operation involving a flotilla of powerful tug boats and dredging vessels that shifted an estimated 30,000 cubic metres (1.1m cubic ft) of mud and sand.

Ever Given is expected to continue on its voyage and call at Rotterdam before it arrives at the Port of Felixstowe.

Mr Watts said: "We've got an area ready, on the 17th and 18th holes, he (Dino) is the centrepiece to the course."

Image source, EPA
Image caption,

The Ever Given is still in the Suez Canal after being refloated

But "not many people have noticed he's missing" since the course opened on Monday, he added.

When it does arrive, the T. rex will still need to be built.

"He is flat-packed, he'll arrive in three or four components," Mr Watts added.

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