Ever Given: Suez Canal ship ready to move on, managers say after Egypt’s ‘extremely disappointing’ decision to impound her

The Ever Given is ready to move towards the northern exit of the Suez Canal, its managers have said, as they described Egypt’s decision to impound her as “extremely disappointing”.

The enormous container ship, which ran aground further south last month and blocked passage through the vital trade artery for six days, is currently anchored in the Great Bitter Lake, about halfway along the canal.

On Tuesday the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced it had seized the vessel and would not allow her to move on until her Japanese owners paid a roughly $900m (£655m) compensation bill.

Even though the SCA’s investigation into the crash was not due to report until Thursday, its chief, Lt Gen Osama Rabei, claimed on Tuesday that Ever Given’s owner Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd had been culpable for the mishap, and not his workers.

Two SCA pilots were aboard the 220,000-tonne container ship when it ran aground.

Lt Gen Rabei told Egypt’s state-run television: “The vessel is now officially impounded. They do not want to pay anything.”

On Wednesday Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), the Ever Given’s technical managers, hit back in a statement.

Ian Beveridge, its chief executive, said: “The SCA’s decision to arrest the vessel is extremely disappointing. From the outset, BSM and the crew on board have cooperated fully with all authorities, including the SCA and their respective investigations into the grounding.

“This included granting access to the voyage data recorder and other materials and data requested by the SCA. BSM’s primary goal is a swift resolution to this matter that will allow the vessel and crew to depart the Suez Canal.”

History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

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1/16History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

Dredging equipment used in the construction of the Suez Canal.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

circa 1860: A dredger and excavator in operation during the construction of the Suez Canal.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

A French frigate passes through the Channel of the Suez Canal, opened in 1869.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

Photo datée de novembre 1869 de l’inauguration du Canal de Suez en Egypte.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

18th March 1938: RAF planes overflying a ship on the Suez Canal.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

Picture released on September 16, 1956 in Port Said of a convoy of ships directed by Egyptian and greek pilots as the traffic has slowed down during the Suez canal crisis.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

A ship sunk by Egyptians to block the Suez Canal appears at the surface of water,11 November 1956 in Port SaÃ¯d. An Anglo-French intervention has been launched after Egypt’s President Nasser nationalized Suez Canal 26 July. End of December diplomatic action by the USA and the USSR forced Britain and France to withdraw and Israel to relinquish SinaÃ¯ which they invaded in October.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

French frigate Dupleix crosses through the suez canal, on August 7, 1990, to reinforce the navy task force since Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 02, 1990, leading to a conflict between Iraq and Koweit and an international military intervention.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

Picture taken on September 27, 1990 in the Suez Canal showing Egyptian troops bound for Saudi Arabia waving to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (aboard a motorized yacht). The Egyptian forces in Saudi Arabia are seconf in strength to American forces.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

The Los Angeles class attack submarine, USS Boise leads the fast combat support ship, USS Seattle and the guided missile cruiser, USS Hue City as the ships of USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group transit the Suez Canal March 4, 2002. The Kennedy battle group is arriving to relieve USS Theodore Roosevelt to conduct missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

An international cargo container ship passes through the Suez canal in Ismailia, Egypt December 14, 2004. Egyptian officials announced today that ships passing through the canal will be subject to a 3 percent increase in tariff charges beginning February 1, 2005. The Suez canal currently generates some 3 Billion U.S. dollars in revenue annually for the Egyptian government. Oil prices witnessed sharp rises this year, making alternate seajourneys more expensive via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

A cargo ship sails through the Suez canal towards the Timsah Lake as a fisherman goes about his business in Ismalia, Egypt, 14 December 2005. Egypt will increase transit fees by three percent next year for ships using the Suez Canal, which generated record revenues in 2005, according to the canal’s authority chairman Ahmed Ali Fadel. Canal tolls were also raised by three percent in 2005.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

File picture dated 25 November 1999 showing ship Al Salam “Boccaccio” 98 in Suez. The Egyptian ferry boat with some 1,400 people on board, including many Muslim pilgrims, sank in the Red Sea during a crossing from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, maritime authorities said 03 February 2006

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

Egyptians enjoy the sea as the British Navy ship Hurst Point advances in the northbound lane of the Suez Canal close to the Egyptian town of Ismailia 07 August 2006. The British vessel loaded with weaponry is on its way from the Gulf to the British navy troops stationed in the Mediterranean Sea.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

An Egyptian boy waves his national flag as the Queen Mary 2, the world’s largest ocean liner ever built, crosses the Suez Canal by the city of Ismailia, 100 kms northeast of Cairo towards the Mediterranean sea 16 March 2007. The British Flag Queen Mary is on an 80-day voyage since 10 January 2007 carrying 5,000 passengers and visiting 20 cities.

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History of the Suez Canal – In Pictures

Swedish antique vessel Gothenburg cruises in the Suez Canal on its way to the Mediterranean port of Alexandria after a return from a trip to China, in the Egyptian city of Ismailia, 100 kms north of Cairo, 29 March 2007. The Gothenburg, an exact replica of an 18th Century vessel built 251 years after the original sank, travels around the word showcasing Swedish culture and folklore.

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The ship will not move until the SCA and Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd come to an agreement, BSM said.

The management company said an inspection by the American Bureau of Shipping had concluded the vessel was able to sail north to Port Said, and that once there she would undergo a further assessment before sailing to Rotterdam – her original planned destination.

Ever Given is owned by Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd, leased by the Taiwanese firm Evergreen and registered in Panama.

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