Stranded container ship Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after it ran aground, in Suez Canal, Egypt March 26, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
By Tarek El-Tablawy (Bloomberg) — Egypt said it may seek around $1 billion in compensation after the giant containership Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal for almost a week and roiled shipping markets.
The figure is a rough estimate of losses linked to transit fees, damages incurred during the dredging and salvage efforts, the cost of the equipment, and labor, Suez Canal Authority chief executive Osama Rabie said late Wednesday to local television channel Sada Elbalad.
He did not specify who the Canal Authority would seek compensation from.
“This is the right of the country,” Rabie said, adding that the incident hurt Egypt’s reputation. “This country should get its due.”
The 400-meter-long Ever Given ship ran aground on March 23 in the southern part of the canal and was freed on Monday.
Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine, the vessel’s charterer, said Thursday it’s not responsible for delays of any cargo it was transporting.
The ship and its cargo, which Rabie said were worth $3.5 billion, is currently in the Great Bitter Lake, roughly halfway along the canal.
Rabie said they could be held in Egypt if the matter of compensation went to court. Such a scenario is unlikely, he said, because Egypt has a long relationship with the ship owner.
Evergreen’s agent in Egypt, Mohamed Bahaa, said he doubted there would be any financial dispute between his company and the canal authorities.
“In 40 years now, not a single case of dispute has happened between SCA and Evergreen,” he said in an interview. “We all respect all the rules of the SCA.”
Related Article: Egypt Wants $1 Billion In Compensation For Suez Blockage
By Tarek El-Tablawy and Mirette Magdy © 2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 110,228 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
Four crew members of the Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima are facing charges for their alleged role in causing Singapore’s worst oil spill in a decade. The incident, which occurred on...
The U.S. Coast Guard Station Mayport responded to a dredger fire on Saturday afternoon. The fire was reported in the engine room of the Stuyvesant, a 340-foot dredger, near the...
A China-registered heavy-lift vessel that had previously involved in an accident at Taiwan’s Keelung Port just two weeks ago, has now run aground along the coast of Taiwan after battling...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 110,228 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
