A spokesman for the Ever Given technical manager Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), has said that a second attempt to re-float the ship was “delayed” yesterday (25 March) and the focus was now on the suction dredger clearing material from the bow.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]However, BSM has, so far, not responded to questions about the speed of the vessel and its behaviour before its fateful incident, nor the question around whether the forward vessel spaces are flooded. But it is understood that another statement is expected.
AIS data overlaid with bathymetric information reveal that some 40% of the vessel, virtually the entire front half, is currently grounded with the port quarter a particular problem. Moreover, unconfirmed reports suggest the forepeak and bow thruster spaces have been flooded, suggesting a breach in the hull, further complicating the salvage process. To the stern the situation is slightly less complex with the aft of the vessel grounded and the probability of damage to the rudder.
An AIS animation of the moments before the accident show Ever Given steaming north at around 13kn in the middle of the channel with high east south-easterly winds. The vessel corrects its course to the west, but clips the bank over-compensating as it turns toward the east bank, ploughing into the bank at around 12kn.
A maritime expert, viewing the AIS animation told Container News, “She’s to the right initially. Then tries to come out to the middle but overshoots to port. There appear to be high winds from ESE [east south east]. She tried to get away from west side and attempts to come to middle, overshoots and ran aground.”
Dredging below the bow would appear to be the most likely method of re-floating the vessel within a short time frame, a failure of this procedure will mean cargo, oil and water will need to be offloaded to lighten the vessel. Such a move could take weeks according to maritime sources.
Reporting on the BBC suggests that more than 150 ships are now delayed by the blockage to the major trade artery, at nearly US$10 billion/day in the value of goods in the Suez region. Some vessels have already re-routed and a failure to unblock the canal by the high-tide on Monday could see a major exodus of vessels from the canal region.
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