The 399.94 meter long Ever Given container ran aground on the 23rd of March, blocking off one of the world’s most vital trade arteries for six days. This had a major affect on disrupting global supply chains, because hundreds of other vessels became trapped too.
This created a strain on container shortages, port congestion and capacity constraints, that have made it much more expensive to move goods globally and creating a shortage of virtually everything.
The Ever Given had millions of dollars’ worth of cargo on board throughout this time.
The vessel was refloated on March 29, but was held in the canal’s Great Bitter Lake whilst a legal battle ensued between the Japanese owner and the Suez Canal Authority, where there was initially filed a USD 900 million compensation claim against loses ensued by the six-day blockage. An undisclosed settlement and formal agreement was finally reached between the two parties.
In a statement on Wednesday 7th July, Shoei Kisen Kaisha owner of Ever Given, thanked the Suez Canal Authority for the release of the ship and it said it would “continue to be a regular and loyal customer” of the canal.
The vessel will be inspected at Egypt’s Port Said before sailing to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It could take two weeks to arrive in Rotterdam, slower than normal due to perhaps sustained damage. It is next due to call at Felixstowe in England.
Ever Given which was carrying 18,300 containers has goods belonging to companies such as IKEA and Lenovo and many small businesses on board. The UK bicycle manufacturer of Pearson 1860 and Snuggy, which makes wearable blankets, have vital orders trapped on the ship.
SANDY MCINNES
MPL NEWSLETTER EDITOR
