CAIRO, Egypt
An Egyptian court on Sunday rejected a complaint by the Japanese owner of a container ship that blocked traffic in the Suez Canal for six days in March against the vessel's continued detention by canal authorities, a lawyer said.
The Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships,
became jammed across the canal in high winds on March 23, halting traffic in
both directions and disrupting global trade.
The complaint was attached to a case at the economic court in
Ismailia in which the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) sought $916 million in
compensation from the Ever Given's owner Shoei Kisen.
Also on Sunday, the head of the SCA suggested in a TV interview
that the canal could accept the reduced sum of $550 million, slightly lower than
the $600 million he had mentioned earlier this month for a potential out of
court settlement.
SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said a $200 million deposit could be
enough to secure the ship's release, with the rest payable separately.
The Ismailia court on Sunday referred the case back to a court
of first instance, which is due to consider it on May 29, said Ahmed Abu Ali,
one of the lawyers representing the owner.
Any ruling made by the lower court could trigger appeals, said
another lawyer, Ahmed Abu Shanab, indicating that legal wrangling could drag
on.
In a statement following Sunday's ruling the SCA said it bore no
responsibility for the Ever Given's grounding, reasserting that responsibility
lay with the ship's captain alone, and rebutting arguments made a day before by
Shoei Kisen's legal team.
It also broke down its $916 million claim, citing the costs of
freeing the ship and a salvage bonus stipulated in maritime law, material and
reputational damage, and the diversion of some shipping away from the canal.
One boat sank during the operation to free the ship, resulting
in the death of a worker, the SCA said.
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