Ever Given sets sail after 4-month detention in Egypt

Suez Canal, Egypt, Jul 7 (EFE).- The container ship Ever Given on Wednesday sailed towards Rotterdam after being retained since blocking the Suez Canal nearly four months ago.

The vessel, which was detained in the waterway’s Great Lake by court order, lifted anchors at 9:20 GMT after reaching a “confidential” agreement signed by the Canal Suez Authority and the ship owner.

The parties will “maintain a friendly relationship,” head of SCA Osama Rabie told a press conference.

The authority agreed to $550 million in compensation for the damages caused, down from $916 million they initially sought out for blocking the waterway through which 10 percent of the global merchandise passes.

Without disclosing any financial details, Rabie said it is “only a sum of money and a tug with a power of 75 horsepower” that will arrive next year.

SCA received “confirmation that the sum of money has been deposited” after Ever Given’s departure, he said, adding that the agreement “implies that there will be no further claims after the ship’s departure”.

The Egyptian authorities blamed the vessel crew for the incident by saying that the ship entered the channel “off-center and at a speed not allowed in narrow sea lanes”.

A CSA worker died during the effort to dislodge the ship. His family refused to take compensation, Rabie said, promising to pay for a pilgrimage trip for them. EFE

cgs/ta/mp