Ever Given, the ship that blocked Suez Canal for 6 days, is leaving Egypt

CAIRO – 7 July 2021: After being stranded since May in the Suez Canal, the Panama-flagged vessel Ever Given is leaving the international trade route, heading toward Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The Ever Given went aground on March 23, 2021, in the 151st km of the Suez Canal, where vessels pass in both directions, causing the suspension of the international maritime navigation through the canal for six days.

After it was freed on March 29, the ship was escorted to the Bitter Lakes for technical inspection, crew interrogation, and black box analysis.

Afterward, an Egyptian economic court in Ismailia issued a decision to seize the ship at the canal until paying compensation for damages it caused due to the grounding, besides the costs of the salvage operation.

Late last month, the Suez Canal Authority said it reached a settlement with the owner of the massive ship that would allow the ship to finally leave the canal after 107 days from the accident.

The Suez Canal Authority is also holding on Wednesday a celebration as it will sign the settlement with the owner. SCA Chairman Osama Rabie, a representative from the owning company and a number of ambassador and international partners are attending.