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2021-03-23 · Suez Canal, near km 151 · Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV, 20,000+ TEU) · Panama flag
The 400-metre, 20,000-TEU container ship Ever Given (Panama flag, Evergreen Marine operator, Shoei Kisen ownership) grounded diagonally across the southern single-lane section of the Suez Canal at km 151 on 23 March 2021. The bridge team lost steering control during a sandstorm gust while transiting at 13 knots northbound. Six days of refloat operations by SMIT Salvage + Boskalis + SCA involved 14 tugs, dredging of ~30,000 m³ of sand, and rising tide. Global container-freight disruption during the blockage was estimated at $9.6bn/day. The case became a landmark modern GA declaration; ~20,000+ cargo interests had to lodge security before their cargo was released.
Ever Given remade Suez Canal escort-tug policy overnight and became the case study for the tension between the pilot's advisory role vs. the master's ultimate command authority in single-lane channel transits. Post-Ever Given SCA policy now formally requires master-pilot conferences at higher levels of documentation. It also became a General Average landmark for the cargo-lien enforcement + IG P&I fund constitution process.
SCA implemented enhanced escort tug requirements (2 tugs for vessels >240m LOA; 3-4 tugs for >320m). New restrictions on transits during sandstorms + high winds. Mastered-pilot formal conference standardised. Shoei Kisen declared General Average — settlement in stages 2022-2024.