Suez Canal ship Ever Given 'grounded again', lawyers say

19 June 2021, 09:27

The Ever Given has been detained following the operation to free the massive vessel which ran aground in March
The Ever Given has been detained following the operation to free the massive vessel which ran aground in March. Picture: PA

By Kate Buck

The cargo vessel that blocked the Suez Canal, holding up world shipping, is grounded again, says a law firm battling to help its client off-load impounded containers.

The Egyptian authorities have detained the Ever Given claiming 550 million US dollars (£395 million) in compensation from the ship's owners Shoei Kisen Kaisha, following the operation to free the massive vessel which ran aground in March.

Jai Sharma, a partner and head of cargo casualty with law firm Clyde & Co, has written an open letter to the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) seeking to resolve the dispute on behalf of his company's clients.

Read more: Vast container ship blocking Suez Canal is finally freed

He wrote: "We represent the insurers of over 100 million (dollars) of cargo on board. Some of this cargo is time-sensitive and the delay is causing many cargo receivers losses and operational difficulties at a time when many businesses have been under pressure because of the pandemic."

Mr Sharma added: "Whilst we understand that the SCA have informally reduced their demand to 550 million dollars from the initial 916 million dollars, in our view this remains a grossly excessive sum for the services rendered and the losses claimed by the SCA."

Lawyers trying to free it say it's been grounded again
Lawyers trying to free it say it's been grounded again. Picture: PA

The Ever Given was carrying around 700 million dollars (£500 million) in cargo between Asia and Europe when it ran aground in the Suez Canal on March 23.

The maritime crisis clogged one of the world's most vital waterways and the vessel was eventually freed by salvage teams six days later.

The latest in a series of court hearings is scheduled for Sunday but Mr Sharma does not believe it is likely a conclusion will be reached then, and discussions are likely to continue between the parties.

READ MORE: Ever Given container ship blocking Suez Canal for a week 'partially refloated'

READ MORE: Suez Canal blocked as 200,000-ton container ship runs aground

It is understood 150 million dollars has been offered to settle the claim, but the SCA is still seeking 550 million dollars.

Mr Sharma said the claim amount was "unprecedented" adding: "It's far, far more by a factor of ten or twenty then we would have expected.

"I think people are willing to pay a reasonable sum and they're even willing to pay more than a reasonable sum just to resolve it, but we think this is multiples of an unreasonable sum."

The Ever Given was carrying around 700 million dollars (£500 million) in cargo between Asia and Europe when it ran aground in the Suez Canal on March 23
The Ever Given was carrying around 700 million dollars (£500 million) in cargo between Asia and Europe when it ran aground in the Suez Canal on March 23. Picture: PA

The Ever Given is carrying around 18,000 shipping containers filled with an array of items from summer goods like barbecues, swimwear and sun loungers to items with a limited shelf life like bamboo shoots, bean curd and lemons.

It is moored in the Great Bitter Lake which is part of the Suez Canal with its crew still aboard.

The UK Club, one of the insurers of the Ever Given, said in a statement on its website: "The UK Club reports that, on authority from the owner and together with the ship's other insurers it is currently engaged in serious and constructive negotiations with the Suez Canal Authority regarding the Authority's claim arising from the grounding of the Ever Given, and is hopeful of a positive resolution to these negotiations in the near future.

The Suez Canal Authority has been contacted for a comment.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Long Row, Nottingham.

16-year-old boy arrested after teenager, 17, stabbed in front of shoppers in Nottingham Primark

Pope is 'still in critical condition'

Pope 'still in critical condition' and participated in Holy Mass with carers amid 'complex clinical picture'

Peter Reynolds, 79 and his wife Barbie, 75 have been arrested by the Taliban.

Retired British couple who run education programmes for mothers arrested by Taliban in Afghanistan

Palestinian children and journalists disperse as Israeli tanks enter the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, on February 23, 2025.

Israel deploys tanks to Occupied West Bank for first time in two decades as Palestinians 'won't be allowed' to return

The first exit polls show the far-right AfD party will win more than 19% of the vote in Germany, as the conservatives fall short of a majority.

Far-right AfD party wins record 19.2% of the vote in German elections as conservatives set for victory, exit poll shows

Jenny Hall

Body found in search for missing 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall

Long Row, Nottingham.

Boy, 17, stabbed in Nottingham Primark

Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt told LBC that we must invest more in defence to secure peace in Ukraine.

'We have got to wake up' and spend more on defence, says ex-defence secretary Penny Mordaunt

Zelenskyy willing to step down as Ukraine's President 'immediately' if it 'brings peace or Nato membership'

Zelenskyy willing to step down as Ukraine's president 'immediately' if it 'brings peace or Nato membership'

UK Weather, London - 9 February 2020. Storm Ciara brings gale force winds and heavy rain to the London’s West End Theatreland district. Credit: Thamesfleet/Alamy Live News

Fresh amber alert as Met Office issues 'danger to life' warning with UK facing heavy rain and 70mph winds

Homeless asylum seeker starved to death while 'dangling from a London skylight for six days'

Homeless asylum seeker starved to death while 'dangling from skylight for six days'

Destruction in Kryvyi Rih, via The State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk

Russia launches 'aerial terror' on Ukraine, with the biggest drone attack of the war so far

Krystena Murray, 38, with her baby boy.

Woman sues IVF clinic after being forced to give up baby that wasn't hers, in embryo mix up

Exclusive
Trump a 'useful idiot' to Putin claims ex-security advisor John Bolton, with threats of a 'third term' being taken serious

Trump a 'useful idiot' to Putin claims ex-security advisor John Bolton, with threats of a 'third term' being taken seriously

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during Scottish Labour Party Conference

Keir Starmer slams Reform UK's 'dangerous right-wing politics' as he accuses Farage of 'fawning over Putin'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned a bad peace deal could be a 'disaster for everyone', as he urged the US to stand by Ukraine on Sunday.

Starmer says UK won’t cave to 'threats and tyranny' as PM warns bad Ukraine deal would be a 'disaster for everyone'