Cargo ships trapped in the Suez Canal in 1967
In 1967, during Israel-Egypt hostilities the Suez Canal was closed off and 15 ships (German, American, British, Bulgarian, Swedish and Polish) were trapped. They remained trapped, apart from one which was sunk during hostilities in 1973, for 8 years. During those 8 years the ships were constantly coated with the yellow sand blown from the desert round the Canal and became known as the Yellow Fleet.