The US has offered to provide help as the Suez Canal blockage drags on.
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) issued a press release on Friday thanking Washington for expressing its desire to contribute to the refloating and removal of the Shoei Kisen-owned, 20,388-teu Ever Given (built 2018) after it ran aground on 23 March.
"[The SCA] looks forward to cooperating with the US in this regard in appreciation of this good initiative, which confirms the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries," the authority said.
"Furthermore, the SCA expressed sincere gratitude for all the offers it received for assistance in this regard; while also highlighting the ongoing efforts towards refloating the containership, and affirming its keenness on ensuring regular global maritime traffic in the Suez Canal as soon as possible."
The SCA did not elaborate on what the US help might entail, and requests for details made to US government offices were not returned.
More than 100 ships were blocked from transiting the Egyptian canal, a key waterway linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, which has sent rates across much of the industry skyward.
Some are reportedly diverting around the Cape of Good Hope, adding a week or more to voyages between Asia and Europe.
Meanwhile, Dutch firm SMIT Salvage has been tasked with refloating the ship as dredging equipment makes its way to the site.
Indications have been made that this weekend may be the best time to get the ship back on the water.
In addition to the offer for help from the US, the Financial Times reported on Friday that unnamed shipping companies had contacted the US Navy over security concerns related to the blockage and the rerouting of vessels around Africa.
East Africa was once a piracy hotspot, but has been controlled in recent years, with the focus shifting to the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa.
There, more than 100 seafarers have been kidnapped since the start of 2020, with incidents becoming more violent with armed pirates boarding ships and taking hostages.
The US Navy did not return a request for comment.
