Man Charged With Fines Unclear, Ever Given To Be Detained Under Egyptian Law

Kapal kontainer Ever Given. (Wikimedia Commons/kees torn)

JAKARTA - Egyptian authorities 'detained' and fined the giant container ship Ever Given, linked to the sinking of a ship in the Suez Canal and causing obstacles for nearly a week, Tuesday, April 13, local time.

An Egyptian court ordered the Japanese ship's owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha, to pay a fine of 916 million U.S. dollars or about Rp13.3 trillion in compensation as a result of losses suffered during the ship's shipwreck.

Addressing local media Al Ahram, CNN said the bill also included maintenance costs and the cost of international rescue operations, to quickly float ever given back in the Suez Canal at the time.

This was said by Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chief Osama Rabie. Meanwhile, the confiscation order was made by the Court in Ismailia City, Egypt.

"The right of the state to seek comprehension and Egypt should earn its right to its role in the rescue of ships," Rabie was quoted as saying by Newsweek.

However, it is not yet clear who will pay this fine. Shipowner Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., owner of the ever given ship, said it had not received official news from Egyptian authorities, the Journal reported.

Meanwhile, President of Evergreen Marine Corp., Eric Hsieh as the ship's tenant revealed, it is free from the responsibility of cargo delays, because it will be covered by insurance, according to Bloomberg.

Previously reported, container ships of this size are most likely insured for hull and engine damage of 100 - 140 million U.S. dollars or about Rp2,022,090,000,000, insurance sources said. Meanwhile, another source said the ship was insured in the Japanese market, two sources said.

If the claim is not paid, reports Newsweek, Ever Given will potentially remain on hold. In its judicial filings, the SCA refers to Article 59 and Article 60 of the Egyptian Maritime Trade Act, under which these giant container ships will be confiscated until the fine is paid in full.