The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has reduced its claim against Japanese shipowner Shoei Kisen Kaisha, owner of the Ever Given from USD 916 million to USD 600 million. According to lawyers and maritime experts, the original claim is out of all proportion to the actual damage.
SCA Chairman Osama Rabie, who also holds the rank of admiral, announced the lower claim on camera of Egyptian television station MBC Masr. It is unclear on what the reduction of about a third of the original claim is based.
Also read: Appeal to release container ship that blocked Suez Canal denied
Actual damages
The original enormous claim of USD 916 million includes two items of USD 300 million for ‘loss of reputation’ and a salvage bonus, a hitherto unknown phenomenon.
Also read: Evergreen: Suez Canal wants USD 300 million for damage to its reputation
In the meantime, the ship has been detained for almost six weeks on the Great Bitter Lake and the damage caused by delays is increasing by the day. A technical inspection has shown that the container giant was slightly damaged when it grounded in the southern part of the channel on 23 March, but it would be able to continue its journey without tug assistance.
This article first appeared in Dutch on NT.nl, a publication of SWZ|Maritime’s publishing partner Promedia.
Picture by Suez Canal Authority.
