Ever Given crew might be arrested

By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas & Pacific Correspondent

CAIRO — Indian shipping officials told the Time of India that they are concerned that the crew that manned the Ever Given during its stint stuck in the Suez Canal might be held criminally responsible.

“There is a clear danger that the crew will be made scapegoats,” said a senior official within India’s shipping industry. The official issued the statement to the Times on the condition of anonymity on Monday of this past week.

If this is the case, the national government might move towards punishing the crew of the vessel instead of holding the charterer and the operator accountable.

David Heindel, the chair of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, added similar concerns in an interview with USA Today.

“Too often, seafarers are unfairly blamed for incidents at sea,” Heindel said. “When proper investigations are conducted we are able to stand back and see the systematic factors which drive bad outcomes.”