Shoei Kisen, the Japanese owner of the Evergreen Marine-operated containership that has grounded in the Suez Canal, has admitted it is facing an “extremely difficult situation”.
Commenting for the first time since the 20,388-teu Ever Given (built 2018) went aground, Shoei said that it is working with Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement “toward an early resolution of the situation”.
“To the vessels that were transiting the Suez Canal and those planning to pass and all those involved in the incident we sincerely apologise for the trouble caused,” said the shipowner, which is part of Japanese Imabari Shipbuilding group of companies.
Shoei is blaming the grounding on the weather conditions at the time.
Shoei and Imabari are controlled by the Higaki family and Yukito Higaki is president of both.
The Ever Given was one of six 20,000-teu containerships built by Imabari for Evergreen Marine under a lease finance scheme in which Shoei took ownership of the vessels.
The ultra-large containerships are under time-charter arrangements and the Taiwanese carrier said Shoei hired the crew for Ever Given.
The China Times reported Evergreen chairman Chang Yen-Yi told Taiwan’s transport ministry that the shipowner would be liable to any “damage to the ship”.
When approached for clarification, Evergreen told TradeWinds: “The owner will be responsible for damages to the hull, and any costs associated with salvage operations and third-party liabilities based on the charter arrangement.”
The Ever Given has protection and indemnity coverage from the UK P&I Club, while its hull and machinery is insured in the Japanese market, insurance sources told Reuters.
“There will probably be some surveys over the ship and the incident later on before they can assess if there is any damage, and whether it would be covered by the insurers,” an Asian shipping source said.
Shoei has a close working relationship with Evergreen. It recently signed a deal to own 10 out of a 20-vessel series of 15,000-teu containership newbuildings to be operated by Evergreen. The Shoei-owned containerships will be built at Imabari.
Shoei is one of the largest owners in Japan with a fleet of 143 vessels.
It has significantly increased its ownership of containerships in recent years. The move follows the expansion into the market by Imabari, which built a specialised containership construction dock at its Marugame Shipyard.
Read more
- Smit Salvage assists with Ever Given refloating effort in Suez Canal
- Crude and product tanker markets display rare strength amid Suez Canal uncertainty
- Allianz says the Suez Canal has an ‘excellent safety record’
- Suez Canal congestion could lead to higher freight rates but more security risks
- Bulker and Russian military tanker collide in Suez Canal
