埃及法院批准正式扣留“长赐”号（Ever Given)货轮
新华社开罗4月13日电，埃及官方《金字塔报》13日报道说，埃及东北部伊斯梅利亚省一家法院当天批准了苏伊士运河管理局提交的正式扣留“长赐”号货轮的申请，该决定将于当天送交“长赐”号货轮船长。报道援引苏伊士运河管理局主席乌萨马·拉比耶的话说，经与“长赐”号货轮船东协商，最终赔偿金额确定为9亿美元，但由于船东拖延缴纳赔偿款，管理局遂决定申请正式扣留该货轮。拉比耶表示，管理局仍希望通过“和平方式”解决索赔问题。拉比耶本月1日曾表示，管理局就“长赐”号货轮搁浅事故的一次性索赔金额将超过10亿美元，以补偿运河停运6天造成的损失和相关救援费用。悬挂巴拿马国旗的重型货轮“长赐”号3月23日在苏伊士运河新航道搁浅，造成航道堵塞。经连续数天救援后，搁浅货轮3月29日成功起浮脱浅，目前仍停留在苏伊士运河的泊位中。埃及方面和货轮管理方正对事故原因进行调查。
Disappointed by arrest of “Ever Given”
Updated 1500 UTC 13 April 2021
On 7 April, the owners of the container vessel “Ever Given” received a claim from the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) for the sum of US $916 million. Despite the magnitude of the claim which was largely unsupported, the owners and their insurers have been negotiating in good faith with the SCA. On 12 April, a carefully considered and generous offer was made to the SCA to settle their claim. We are disappointed by the SCA’s subsequent decision to arrest the vessel today. We are also disappointed at comments by the SCA that the ship will be held in Egypt until compensation is paid, and that her crew will be unable to leave the vessel during this time.The SCA has not provided a detailed justification for this extraordinarily large claim, which includes a US$300 million claim for a "salvage bonus" and a US$300 million claim for "loss of reputation".The grounding resulted in no pollution and no reported injuries. The vessel was re-floated after six days and the Suez Canal promptly resumed their commercial operations. The claim presented by the SCA also does not include the professional salvor’s claim for their salvage services which owners and their hull underwriters expect to receive separately. The P&I aspects of the claim are relatively modest, with the exception of the claim for loss of reputation, which is disputed.Owners have cooperated fully with the SCA throughout their investigation into the cause of the grounding, which we understand is now complete. When the grounding occurred, the vessel was fully operational with no defects in her machinery and/or equipment and she was fully manned by a competent and professional Master and crew. Navigation was being conducted under the supervision of two SCA pilots, in accordance with the Suez Canal Rules of Navigation.The vessel’s classification society, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), completed their surveys on 4 April 2021 and issued a certificate of fitness to allow the vessel to move from Great Bitter Lake to Port Said where she will then undergo re-inspection before completing her voyage to Rotterdam. The owners will continue to negotiate with the SCA.The UK Club is working with all parties involved. Our priority is the fair and swift resolution of this claim to ensure the release of the vessel and cargo and, more importantly, her crew of 25 who remain on board.
Background:
“Ever Given” grounded in the Suez Canal at about 0540 UTC on 23 March 2021 and following the efforts of the ship’s crew, international salvage experts and local resources coordinated by the SCA, she was re-floated at about 1300 UTC on 29 March 2021 and moved to anchor at Great Bitter Lake where she remains.The vessel owners and managers have provided full cooperation to the SCA throughout their investigations. The vessel’s Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) data and all other requested information has been provided to the investigators.The UK Club has insured the owner of “Ever Given” for certain third-party liabilities that might arise from an incident such as this - including, for example, damage caused to infrastructure or claims for obstruction. The vessel itself and its cargo will have been insured separately. While the UK Club is unable to comment on any confidential insurance or potential claim details, all valid claims will be considered by the vessel owner, the UK Club and its legal advisors in due course.
Ends
转自其他网站
点击咨询
0755-82725690
chartering@tlinkshipping.com