Ever Given

Summary

Ever Given is a 2018-built Panama-flagged Evergreen Marine container ship (220,940 GT, 20,124 TEU capacity) — one of the largest ships in the world. On 23 March 2021 she ran aground diagonally in the Suez Canal during a sandstorm, wedging her bow into the eastern bank and her stern into the western bank and completely blocking the canal for six days. The blockage held up an estimated $9.6 billion of daily maritime trade, forced re-routings around the Cape of Good Hope, and reshaped supply-chain risk analysis worldwide. She was freed on 29 March by tug fleets and dredging; her cargo continued after a three-month legal detention in the Great Bitter Lake.

Crew perspective

Ever Given brought bridge-team management (BTM) and pilotage handovers into every crew's dinner-mess conversation. The Suez Canal Authority's investigation flagged crew-pilot communication gaps and windage response as contributors; the Egyptian court's initial $916m arrest of the vessel demonstrated how the master and shipowner are legally exposed even during pilotage.

Notable incidents

• 23-29 Mar 2021 six-day Suez Canal blockage
• Freed by 14-tug operation and Suez Canal Authority dredging
• Held in Great Bitter Lake three months in a $916m arrest
• Cited in 2021-2022 supply-chain reviews across every major economy

Sister ships

Ever Golden, Ever Globe, Ever Grade, Ever Gifted, Ever Greet