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Saturday, September 30, 2023 | 
U.S. & World Business

The Ever Given is finally out of the Suez Canal

More than 3 months after entering the canal, the Ever Given has finally sailed out

By Aspen Pflughoeft
SHARE The Ever Given is finally out of the Suez Canal
The Ever Given, a Panama-flagged cargo ship, is seen in Egypt’s Great Bitter Lake.

In this Tuesday, March 30, 2021, file photo, the Ever Given, a Panama-flagged cargo ship, is seen in Egypt’s Great Bitter Lake.

Mohamed Elshahed, Associated Press

First, the ship got stuck in the Egyptian canal for six days; then it got stuck in the Egyptian courts for 100 days. Now, the Ever Given has set sail out of the Suez Canal, reported CNN.

  • The ship captured global attention in March when it got stuck blocking one of the world’s most crucial waterways, reported the Deseret News.
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Why was the Ever Given still stuck in the Suez Canal?

After the Ever Given was dislodged from the canal, the ship was impounded in the waterway’s Great Bitter Lake, reported the Deseret News. The Suez Canal Authority filed for compensation from the ship’s Japanese owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha.

  • Until the settlement agreement was reached, the crew and cargo aboard the Ever Given were not permitted to leave the Suez Canal, reported BBC.
  • The Ever Given spent three months waiting for Egyptian courts to negotiate a settlement agreement, reported NBC News.
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What was the settlement agreement?

The details of the settlement agreement have not been disclosed. All parties have said they are committed to secrecy about the deal, reported NBC News.

The compensation likely centered on the cost of the salvage operation, per NBC News.

  • Initially, the Suez Canal Authorities demanded $916 million for damages then lowered their demands to $550 million.
  • Initially, Shoei Kisen Kaisha — the ship’s Japanese owner — offered $115 million in compensation, per NBC News.

The settlement agreement was reached Sunday and announced Wednesday, said CNN.

What happens to the Ever Given now?

Before finally setting sail, the Ever Given captain and crew members were given flowers and a plaque on board, said BBC. The small ceremony and party celebrated the ship’s long-anticipated voyage out of the Suez Canal.

  • The Ever Given will sail to Rotterdam, Netherlands, at a slowed pace due to damages sustained during the incident, reported CNN.
  • Afterward, the Ever Given will continue to Felixstowe, England, to unload its cargo at long last, per CNN.

The shipping saga that captured the world’s attention has finally come to a close.

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