MV Ever Given Reaches UK 4 Months Late
The container ship that disrupted global trade by blocking the Suez Canal earlier this year has finally reached the UK four months after schedule. The Ever Given docked at Port Felixstowe on Tuesday. This was after the container ship had blocked one of the major shipping lanes for six days from March 23.
People could be seen queuing up to watch the arrival of the 400m-long ship’s docking at the port. Some of them had binoculars and deckchairs with them.
The mission to free the ship from one of the world’s most important waterways caused a major traffic jam that had repercussions for stakeholders around the world. The ship had been held by Egypt overcompensation. The losses and damages will ultimately be close to $1 billion.
The ship’s owner had initially claimed the canal authorities were at fault as the Ever Given was allowed to enter the waterway despite bad weather.
There were even concerns for the welfare of the crew. Representatives of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) were sent aboard the ship to check on them.
In July, the container ship was freed after a deal overcompensation was struck. The departure of the ship from the canal was celebrated with much fanfare.
Having spent around three months at anchor, the ship sailed for inspection at Port Said. It then went to Rotterdam, where it was to unload some 18,000 containers. Thereafter, the ship made its way to Felixstowe. It will sail for Hamburg next.
Reference: theguardian.com
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