The March blockade of the Suez Canal continues to affect world shipping

Since the Ever Given accident in late March container freight rates have increased by more than 10%, which has forced companies to use air transport more frequently, which is much more expensive, and rail transport, which is much slower.

The global supply chains are therefore still disrupted," the Japanese portal emphasizes.

A container ship, flying the Panamanian flag and operated by the Taiwanese company Evergreen Marine Corp., wedged on an important waterway on March 23, causing significant disturbances in global traffic by blocking more than 400 ships before being eventually removed six days later.

Ever Given, one of the largest container ships in the world, is being held on the Great Bitter Lake between two sections of the canal as part of a dispute with the Japanese ship leasing company, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd.

The Egyptian court rejected the Shoei Kisen appeal on Tuesday and agreed to continue to confiscate the ship in connection with the dispute over the amount of compensation to be paid by the owner. Channel authorities demand $916 million.

A 26-member crew from India, who is still on board, may be very concerned about this, as there are no indications that an agreement will be reached between Egypt and the owners of Ever Given in the near future. If there is no agreement, the crew can be stuck on the ship for years.

It happens that crew members remain trapped on ships due to international maritime disputes.

"Guardian" described in detail the fate of sailor Mohammad Aisha, who has been guarding the ship in the Gulf of Suez for two years, just 80 km south of where Ever Given is currently being held. It can only stay on land for two hours to get food and water or charge the phone.

Channel authorities are investigating the cause of the ship's entry into the shallows, but have not yet announced its results.

Source: PAP