Maersk Resolves Lawsuit Related to Ever Given’s Suez Canal Blockage

Maersk Group has reached an out-of-court settlement in a lawsuit over the grounding of the Ever Given, the massive boxship that shut down the Suez Canal for six days in 2021. The lawsuit, filed in Denmark, sought damages of about $45 million, and has now been resolved. The Ever Given went aground in the Suez Canal on March 23, 2021, blocking the waterway to all marine traffic. The complex salvage operation involved shore-based excavating equipment, cutter suction dredgers, and at least 10 tugs, and the ship was finally refloated on March 29.

During the six-day shutdown, up to 400 ships had their voyages disrupted, including 50 boxships with connections to Maersk. In response, Maersk sued shipowner Shoei Kisen Kaisha and operator Evergreen for damages from the disruption. Evergreen denied responsibility for the incident, stating that the vessel’s owner was responsible for the expenses and liabilities. Maersk has now withdrawn the lawsuit following news of a settlement agreement. Meanwhile, Boskalis, owner of salvor SMIT Salvage, has filed a suit seeking compensation from Shoei Kisen Kaisha for its role in freeing the stranded ship.

The lawsuit’s progress was closely watched in the liner shipping world, as a win for Maersk could provide a blueprint for other affected carriers to file similar claims. The estimated value of the Ever Given job was in the range of $25-50 million, and SMIT Salvage has continued to work with Shoei Kisen Kaisha on other salvage operations.

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