SCA: The damages claim is solved by Egypt Will Hold Ever Given 

The container ship Ever Given remains anchored in Egypt's Great Bitter Lake, weeks after being rescued from the Suez Canal's banks - and she may not be leaving anytime soon. Last week, the top official of the Suez Canal Authority told a local TV station that the vessel would remain in port until Egypt's huge demand for financial damages was resolved.

According to the Wall Street Journal, SCA head Lt. Gen. Osama Rabie said, "The vessel will remain here until inquiries are completed and compensation is paid." "We are hoping for a quick resolution [and] the vessel will be able to travel as soon as they consent to compensation."

Ever Given Ship 

Egypt would demand $1 billion in compensation from the ship-owner, according to Rabie. According to Refinitiv, the SCA lost less than one-tenth of that total in canal transit fees during the boxship's six-day layover. The cost of the salvage has not been revealed, but it will have to cover the efforts of two dredgers, a dozen tugs of different sizes, skilled salvor fees, and salaries and overtime for hundreds of Egyptian workers.

Following the grounding, the canal authority is considering changes to its physical operations, which may include larger salvage tugs, larger cranes, and the widening of the canal's narrow southern segment. The SCA, on the other hand, denies any blame for the grounding. Lt. Gen. Rabie hypothesized in a recent interview with Kyodo News that the vessel's master might be to blame, but he did not provide evidence.

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“Perhaps the captain made a mistake in a specific request, such as the rudder or speed,” Rabie speculated. He denied that the SCA-hired pilots who accompany any ship through the canal could be held liable. "Even though the guide [pilot] issues instructions, the captain has the right to adjust them or use some route or speed other than what the guide says... There was no mistake or liability on the part of the [SCA]," he said.

Data have been extracted from Ever Given's VDR by Egyptian investigators and the evidence is being examined. Officials have also interviewed the crew, who are still on board the ship.