AsiaContainersRegulatory

Egyptian court blocks Ever Given’s departure

An Egyptian court ruled yesterday that the 20,388 teu Ever Given containership which blocked the Suez Canal in March will continue to be held in the waterway, rejecting an appeal by its Japanese owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha, against its detention.

The Suez Canal Authority has been demanding $916m in damages from the six-day blockage that the huge 400 m long ship created on the waterway.

The ship has been arrested and is anchored at the Bitter Lakes area while its owner and insurance parties negotiate with Egyptian authorities over the price for its release. In the meantime, crew who have worked their contract lengths have been allowed to head home and be replaced.

General average has been declared by the ship’s owner with shippers braced for a big bill to get the 18,300 containers onboard moved to their European destinations.

Shoei Kisen has applied the International Convention on Limitation of Liability on the Ever Given, whereby it will aim to cap claims to a maximum of $115m.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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