Gavin Magrath, Magrath’s International Legal Counsel, Toronto, Canada
Update: 31 March 2022 Evergreen Marine has declared General Average after efforts to refloat the vessel failed.
The “Ever Forward” has failed to live up to its name as the 334m container ship ran aground in shallow water exiting Chesapeake Bay during the night of 13-14 March, according to multiple sources.
The ship is a ‘sister ship” to the Ever Given, famously stuck in the Suez Canal almost exactly one year ago. Both ships are operated by Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine. The Ever Forward sails under the flag of Hong Kong.
The US Coast Guard is investigating, and traffic is still able to move in and out of the major east coast port. It is not yet clear what led to the grounding; the Craighill Channel, through which large vessels pass in and out of the bay, is approximately fifty feet deep (15.25m), while the ship appears to have foundered in waters only 1/2 that depth. The Ever Forward is listed at a draft of 13.0 meters.
The vessel does not appear to be leaking fuel or oil, and no injuries were reported, according to the Associated Press.