CARO – 25 May 2021: Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie received Tuesday Panamiam Ambassador to Cairo Alejandro Gantes and accompanying delegation that includes Director General of the Panamanian Maritime Authority Rafael Cigarruista to discuss ways of joint cooperation, including a solution to reach an agreement on the compensation sum for the MV EVER GIVEN stranding. Rabie stressed that the authority has spared no effort to make the negotiations with the company that owns the Panamanian-flagged container ship EVER GIVEN work. He stressed that the Suez Canal's Book of Rules is the legal reference specified for the rights and obligations of the Suez Canal towards its clients. The Suez Canal Authority chairman explained that the Canal's book of rules stipulates that the ship or floating unit when sailing through the Canal, bears responsibility for any consequential damage or loss that results directly or indirectly from the ship, the floating unit, or the Suez Canal Authority's staff members. Rabie pointed out that such requests now fall within the jurisdiction of the concerned court only, and the Suez Canal Authority cannot decide on the matter.

Source: Egypt Today May 25, 2021 16:52 UTC