Image:Suez Canal Authority
In a recent development, the Maersk Group has reached an out-of-court settlement in the lawsuit it filed over the disruption caused by the grounding of the massive boxship Ever Given in 2021. The incident, which occurred on March 23, led to a six-day shutdown of the Suez Canal, impacting global maritime commerce.
Maersk, the world’s second-largest ocean carrier, had initially sought damages of approximately $45 million in a lawsuit filed in Denmark against unspecified parties linked to the grounding. Danish outlet ShippingWatch confirmed on Thursday that the lawsuit has now been resolved through an undisclosed settlement.
The Ever Given, upon entering the southern entrance of the Suez Canal, became grounded due to its dimensions exceeding the canal’s width. With its bow and stern firmly wedged, the vessel blocked the waterway, disrupting marine traffic for six days. The complex salvage operation involved the Suez Canal Authority deploying shore-based excavating equipment, cutter suction dredgers, and at least 10 tugs. The ship was successfully refloated on March 29, attracting global attention to the vital role of maritime commerce in daily life.
During the canal shutdown, approximately 400 ships, including 50 boxships connected to Maersk, experienced disruptions to their voyages. In response, Maersk filed a lawsuit against shipowner Shoei Kisen Kaisha and operator Evergreen at Denmark’s Maritime and Commercial Court, seeking damages for the incurred disruptions.
Evergreen, however, denied responsibility for the incident, asserting that, under the terms of a time-charter agreement, all expenses and liabilities related to the refloating operation were the responsibility of the vessel’s owner. This denial set the stage for a closely watched legal battle in the liner shipping world, as a favorable outcome for Maersk could have set a precedent for other affected carriers.
On Thursday, Maersk officially withdrew the lawsuit following news of the settlement agreement. The terms and amount of the settlement remain undisclosed.
In a related development, Boskalis, the owner of salvor SMIT Salvage, initiated legal proceedings in a London court earlier this year, seeking compensation from Shoei Kisen Kaisha for its role in the salvage operation. According to reports, the estimated value of the Ever Given job ranged between $25-50 million.
Despite the legal disputes, SMIT Salvage, owned by Boskalis, has continued collaboration with Shoei Kisen Kaisha. Notably, the salvor played a key role in responding to the burning car carrier Fremantle Highway, which caught fire off the coast of the Netherlands in July.
This resolution marks the end of a significant legal chapter surrounding the Ever Given grounding, highlighting the complexities and challenges faced by the maritime industry in the aftermath of high-profile incidents.
