Ever Given, the Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV) which blocked the Suez Canal in late March, has begun its journey from the Suez Canal to the Port of Rotterdam after more than three months. Following a formal agreement between the owners and the insurers of the 20,388TEU vessel and the Suez Canal Authority, the ship was allowed to leave the canal.
The Japanese shipowner of Ever Given, Shoei Kisen Kaisha, confirmed: "Following the conclusion of a formal agreement with the Suez Canal Authority, the vessel and its crew have departed The Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal."
The level of compensation has not been disclosed, but according to the Wall Street Journal, the figure stands at US$200 million.
The ULCV is now sailing towards the Port of Rotterdam, carrying more than 18,000 containers on board and the next call will be at the Port of Felixstowe in the United Kingdom. Ever Given will proceed, firstly, to Port Said in Egypt, where a dive survey of the vessel will be completed.
Container-news.com reports that the journey to Rotterdam could take about 15 days, as the container ship will likely have to sail at a slower pace due to damage sustained from the Suez Canal grounding.
