Suez Canal: why the crew of Ever Given is still trapped on the ship

They lived in a stranded boat in the Suez Canal, temporary hostages in a multi-million dollar conflict involving a ship that sails under the Panamanian flag, owned by a Japanese holding company, operated by a German company, with an Indian crew.

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As if that weren’t enough, they are trapped in Egypt. Specifically in the Great Amer Lake, in the Suez Canal system.

The cargo ship Ever Given ran aground in the canal from March 23 to 29, causing the blockade of one of the world’s main trade sea routes.

Three weeks later, the 25 crew members on the ship were still in good condition and even the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which was able to visit them on the ship, said it was “in a good mood”. .

However, the crew feel in a delicate position and are understandably anxious. to see if they can go home as usual when to finish their contracts, explains the ITF statement.

ITF representatives approach Ever Given, which is anchored in the Great Bitter Lake, Egypt

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The Suez Canal Authority has previously warned that as long as the nearly US $ 1 billion claim to compensate the damage, the rescue operation and the “loss of reputation” is not resolved, the ship will remain in operation. Egypt and your crew will not be able to leave you during this time.

It is natural for them to experience anxiety given the uncertainty of the situation, ”Mundo Abdulgani Serang of the Indian Boaters’ Union, who represents the Ever Given crew, told BBC.

But Serang also pointed out that Bernard Schulte, the German company that chartered the boat and hired the crew, has a reputation and that seafarers have appropriate union agreements.

When Ever Given was crossed, weather conditions were flagged as a possible cause, and almost immediately analyzed the competence of the personnel and the possible negligence committed in everything that happened.

Some media in India even echoed industry fears that the parties would take the crew as a scapegoat or could end up being placed in house arrest.

But Serang recalls that if “the ship was seized by order of the Egyptian courts, it was not lifted no doubt about your professionalism“.

The Ever Given, which appears at the top left of the image, has caused a historic traffic jam.

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For the moment, the The official status of the vessel is “confiscated“According to Evergreen, the shipping company that leases containers from the Japanese holding company Shoei Kisen Kaisha, but no one has been charged with the accident.

Experts warn that resolving this international dispute between all businesses, insurance companies and government agencies could take years.

Legal entanglement

While the Suez Canal Authority contends that the efforts to free the vessel were costly and should be compensated, the owners of the vessel have filed a lawsuit in the UK against the company that operated el never gave.

All these accusations and cross-trials show that It will not be easy to determine who was responsible and how much to pay.

In the midst of this complex legal context is the crew.

Suez Canal

“There was no loss of life, oil spills, or criminal activity in the incident. It’s just a civil case over the financial implications negotiated by Egyptian owners, charterers, insurers and authorities, ”said the representative of the Indian Boaters’ Union.

On the positive side, the ITF investigation concluded that there had been no breach of the ship’s staff contracts and that all had received their March wages.

This is why for the moment it is not considered a case of abandonment like that suffered by Mohammed Aisha, the keeper of an abandoned ship on the southern coast of Egypt from where he can leave unless the shipowner cannot find a replacement or the ship is sold.

According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation, in Egypt officers aboard detained ships sometimes find themselves under a status equivalent to house arrest, sometimes for years.

It is not the first time

In fact, this is not the first time that a ship’s crew has been trapped against their will.

Suez Canal

In June 1967, 15 ships crossing the canal were caught in the crossfire between Israel and the bloc formed by Egypt, Syria and Jordan during the Six Day War.

During the resolution of the conflict, the ships anchored in Great Amer Lake so as not to be identified as targets.

The war ended on June 10, with the defeat of the three Arab countries.

But Egypt maintained the blockade and the 14 ships could not leave.

Suez Canal

Thanks to diplomatic negotiations, some sailors left within two weeks, BBC Radio 4 host Peter Snow told the 2010 show The Yellow Fleet.

But the rest of the crew stayed for three months.

A scenario, that of remaining on the ship, facing the crew of Ever Given.

“Seafarers will get legal and logistical support at local, national and international level in solidarity. They are not alone, ”they conclude from the Indian union.

Source: BBC

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