The Odyssey is finally over!
More than four months after a blockade of the Suez Canal, the giant container ship “Ever Given” entered the port of Rotterdam on Thursday morning.
“A special moment,” said Hans Nagtegal, the head of AFP news agency’s container port. “We can finally start landing.”
Huge container ship docked at the port’s so-called ECT Delta terminalPhoto: Remco De Waal / DPA
“Ever Given” blocked the Suez Canal for six days in March. After the ship was finally freed, the canal administration confiscated it to negotiate compensation.
An agreement was reached with the Japanese ship owner Shi Kisen Kaisha in early July, with the ship being able to lift anchor on 7 July.
Nagtegal said “Ever Given” will be in Rotterdam until Monday. Then she goes to Felixstow in Great Britain, then to dry dock in Dunkirk, France.
The giant cargo got caught in a sand storm on 23 March and overturned. The 400-metre-long container ship was then stuck in the narrow canal, with more than 400 ships standing in front and behind. It was freed on 29 March.
Details of the settlement agreement were not disclosed. Egypt recently asked for $550 million (about 464 million euros).
The ship loaded many different products – such as cars, bicycles, calendars, garden furniture, clothing, but also spare parts for food. It is not clear how much of the goods will now not be able to be sold due to the month-long delay.
