It is reported that Maersk is filing a lawsuit against Evergreen seeking compensation for the serious delay of about 50 Maersk container ships caused by the grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal two years ago.

On March 23, 2021, the container ship Changci ran aground in the Suez Canal, blocking the channel and disrupting the navigation of as many as 400 ships, delaying global trade for several months.

According to foreign media reports, Maersk calculated that more than 50 of its container ships were unable to pass through the Suez Canal due to grounding accidents, causing serious delays. Maersk has filed a compensation claim with Evergreen to make up for the losses it suffered due to the suspension of flights.

The company responded to the media and said: "Yes, Maersk has filed a claim against Evergreen, the ship owner and Ship Technology Management in the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court. .”

The shipping company is understood to be seeking nearly 300 million Danish kroner ($43 million) from charterer Evergreen, ship owner Shoei Kisen Kaisha and German ship management firm Bernhard Schulte Management, which hired the crew on board. ) compensation.

The sum includes, among other costs, claims Maersk has received from customers whose goods were transported by delayed ships.

According to Maritime Danmark, if Maersk wins the case, it could open the door to a series of claims worth hundreds of millions of dollars, which CMA CGM and MSC will monitor closely.

The case, which has been ongoing for some time, has been made more difficult by the fact that several of the companies being sued are registered in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. No court session has yet been scheduled. According to foreign media information, the first trial may take place at the end of this year or early 2024.

In addition, Evergreen denied any liability to Maersk. "The Evergreen is chartered by Evergreen Shipping under the terms of a time charter agreement and all costs and any liability for the refloating operations are borne by the owner (Masei Kisen)," the company said.

The lawsuit filed by Maersk is the latest in a series of legal proceedings related to the incident. Claims related to groundings could total $2 billion, according to French insurer Scor SE, which will be largely covered by the reinsurance arm. The Suez Canal Authority alone is suing Evergreen for $900 million, but the final settlement is believed to be much lower.