Cairo (AFP)
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced on Sunday an agreement providing for the release on Wednesday of the giant container ship Ever Given retained after having blocked the Suez Canal at the end of March, a crucial seaway for international trade.
The deal was reached with the shipowner, according to a statement from SCA.
A ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday to celebrate "the signing of the agreement" and the "departure of the ship", held back in Lake Amer by the Egyptian authorities, added the text.
With a capacity of more than 200,000 tonnes, the Ever Given ran aground on March 23, blocking traffic on the canal where nearly 10% of world maritime trade passes, according to experts.
The blockade lasted six days.
According to the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), Egypt lost $ 12 million to $ 15 million (about $ 9.8 million to about $ 12.5 million) per day it was closed.
At the end of June, SCA announced an "initial" compensation agreement between Egypt and the owner of the Ever Given, after intense negotiations including the ship's insurers.
The main bone of contention between Egypt and the Japanese company Shoei Kisen, owner of the ship, had been over the amount of compensation.
Initially, Cairo had claimed 916 million dollars (767 million euros), before lowering the amount to 600 then 550 million dollars (about 461 million euros).
A total of 422 ships, loaded with 26 million tonnes of cargo, were stranded in March.
© 2021 AFP