In recent reports by Egyptian news broadcaster Sada el-Badad, Egypt’s National Navigation Company has sued the Japanese owner of ‘Ever Given’, Shoei Kisen Kaisha.
The lawsuit has been filed demanding compensation for the loss caused by the six-day blockade of the Suez Canal in March.
The Egyptian firm claims to have suffered a significant loss after its vessel, Wadi Sudr was unable to complete its voyage due to the Suez Canal blockage. The first hearing of the lawsuit was scheduled for Sunday, 21 November.
The blockage caused by the vessel in late March had earlier prompted a multi-million dollar legal battle between the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and the vessel owner. The salvaged vessel was seized by the SCA for the period.
The court later in April ruled on the matter in favour of the SCA ordering the ‘Ever Given’ owner to pay US$900 million compensation, the lost traffic fees for the six days, along with all maintenance and salvage costs.
The matter was later resolved in the form of negotiations between the SCA and the firm by finalizing the amount of compensation of about US$550 million in July 2021 against the release of the seized vessel.
Ever Given resumed its voyage on 7 July to Rotterdam and reached Qingdao in China for its repair of damages sustained from the blockage in October.
After six weeks of extensive repair, Ever Given has finally departed Qingdao last Saturday, 13 November after loading about 5,000 containers according to state media. The vessel is bound to a few Chinese ports and will then finally head to Europe after making a stop in Malaysia.
But this return after an extensive repair has turned dull with yet another lawsuit showing up for the Ever Given owner.
Ankur Kundu
Correspondent
