Ever Given may suffer flag arrest
The ULCS, the Ever Given, may suffer Panama-flag arrest, preventing owners from making changes to the boxship’s registration.
Shoei Kisen, the owner of the boxship the Ever Given that blocked the Suez Canal for six days, are facing another legal battle as claimants pursue the arrest of its registration, reports Tradewinds. The Panamanian-flagged 20,124-teu vessel is currently being held in Egypt after it went aground in the Suez canal in March.
A flag arrest against the vessel would freeze the Ever Given’s registration with the Panama Maritime Authority and prevent Shoei Kisen from transferring her to a new ownership, re-mortgaging, or re-flagging. The flag arrest would also apply to the Ever Given’s sister ships.
Francisco Carreira-Pitti of Carreira Pitti Attorneys said, “[Shoei Kisen Kaisha] have several vessels registered in the same company. Tomorrow they may change that.”
For a flag arrest to be secured, evidence of the underlying claim must be filed plus a counter security bond, and Carreira-Pitti said the move would allow action against the ship’s protection and indemnity insurer, the UK P&I Club.
The Ever Given is currently at anchor in the Great Bitter Lake as the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) pursues $916m in claims and costs. The UK P&I Club said $300m of the SCA’s claim was for a salvage bonus and another $300 for damage to the canal’s reputation.
