The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and representatives of the owners of the Ever Given signed an agreement early in the morning in Ismailia on Wednesday, the agency reported. Reuters.
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SCA did not disclose details of the agreement that allowed the ship to leave the canal. However, SCA chairman Osama Rabi said the talks had ended in a “fair agreement” for both parties. He added that a large part of the agreed compensation had already been paid to the office, and that the ship owner Shoei Kisen would pay the rest this month later.
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The ship Ever Given is on Wednesday morning according to the site Wall Street Journal she set out across the Great Bitter Lake, where she had been moored since March 29, when she was rescued. She then joined the back of the north-facing convoy and passed where SCA and the ship’s representatives had signed a compensation agreement.
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According to Reuters, the vessel will arrive in the Egyptian port city of Port Said at the northern end of the canal in about six hours. There he undergoes a hull inspection and then sails to another port, where he finally unloads his cargo. “May God allow her to arrive safely. It’s a beautiful thing – We’re happy, of course, “the captain of the accompanying vessel told Reuters.
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The Ever Given will be accompanied by two tugs on a canal, one of the busiest waterways in the world, towards the Mediterranean, and will be driven by two experienced captains.
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According to Reuters, the footage broadcast by Egyptian television shows that the captain and other crew members received flowers and a plaque when boarding the ship.
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The vessel, 400 meters long and weighing 220,000 tons, is loaded with approximately 18,300 containers. The total value of the goods on board is estimated at around $ 600 to $ 700 million.
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The giant vessel got stuck in a narrow section of the Egyptian canal connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea on March 23, also due to a wind speed of 40 knots and a sandstorm, which caused low visibility and made it impossible for sailors to navigate 100%.
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Traffic was interrupted in both directions due to the jammed ship, a total of up to 400 ships were waiting to clear the canal. The Ever Given rescue lasted six days, after which the SCA was detained by court order and the authority demanded compensation from the Japanese owner of the ship Shoei Kisen.
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“We regret the impact of delays on those who have cargo stuck on board. Throughout this event, we tried to minimize the delay and ensure the release of the vessel as quickly as possible, “Shoei Kisen said in a statement at the time.
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After Shoei Kisen, SCA demanded more than $ 900 million (CZK 19.6 billion) for the rescue operation to rescue the Ever Given and other losses, and later reduced it to $ 550 million (CZK 12 billion). At that time, the shipowners questioned and denied the detention of the ship and the claim for compensation.
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After lengthy negotiations, SCA announced on Tuesday evening that the ship would be released. However, the details of the agreement are still unknown to the public.
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However, according to SCA Chairman Rabbi, the agreement clearly states that neither side of the conflict will make any further claims. “SCA has committed to maintaining the confidentiality of the terms of the agreement,” said lawyer Khalid Abubakr.
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Jukito Higaki of Imabari shipbuilding, whose subsidiary is Shoei Kisen, thanked SCA in a pre-recorded statement.
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“Our company has a large fleet of ships and will continue to be a regular and loyal customer of the Suez Canal. In our opinion, this remains an indispensable asset for international maritime trade, “said Higaki.
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The Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, accounts for about 15 percent of world shipping. For Egypt, the canal is an important source of income.
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Due to the jamming of the Ever Given SCA, it accelerated the plan to expand and deepen the southernmost section of the canal. However, according to Rabbi, the rules for ships passing through the canal in difficult weather conditions will not change.
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