The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) claims it has called on all the parties to co-operate in the Ever Given legal dispute with its chairman and managing director, Osama Rabie, confirming in a statement the authority is willing to negotiate with the vessel owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd, and insurer, UK P&I Club.
Rabie noted that “the authority is being flexible to all the special requirements of the negotiations while adhering to what the international norms stipulate in such cases.”
He went on to clarify that the allegations of detaining the ship crew are not true, pointing out that “the SCA does not mind the departure or recrew operations provided the presence of the sufficient number of sailors to secure the vessel and in the light of the presence of the ship captain as he stands as the juridical guardian of the ship and the cargo aboard.”
Furthermore, SCA has responded to all the requests made by the ship-owning company, including permitting two crew members to leave the ship and return to their homeland for urgent personal circumstances, according to a statement.
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), the ship manager of the Panamanian-flagged container ship Ever Given, has confirmed that SCA has approved requests to allow the some crew to depart.
In the meantime, BSM has announced that currently, there are 25 Indian national crew members onboard the vessel in its latest update. “All are safe, in good health and good spirits,” said BSM, while day-to-day operations onboard the vessel continue with the seafarers aboard conducting routine fire and safety drills alongside ongoing planned vessel maintenance.
When the vessel went aground all crew onboard were within the terms of their contracts, reported BSM and added, “However, delays in allowing the vessel to depart mean that three crew members are now due to be relieved.”
All crew members have full internet access and can communicate with their families. The vessel is fully supplied with food, including 20 days of fresh fruit and vegetables, and resupply of fresh drinking water was completed on 17 April. Additionally, all crew wages have also been paid in full.
Meanwhile, on 18 April, representatives from the International Transport Workers Federation visited the vessel where they were able to speak with the crew and confirm everybody on board remains safe and well, according to BSM update.
