The maritime authorities in Panama reported on Wednesday that They will open an investigation Concerning the accident of a ship flying the flag of Panama since when, From the Japanese company Shoei Kisen and in the service of the Taiwanese company Evergreen which It was stranded on Tuesday in the Suez Canal, blocking the passage of dozens of ships on this route..
“We are appointing an investigator who will report specifically to be able to understand the events that surrounded this with certainty the stranding of the Ever Geffen in the Suez Canal,” said the Head of the Merchant Marine Directorate General. DGMM) from the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), Raphael Segaruista.
Panama, Whose regulations allow “open registration” and offer tax benefits, The global merchant fleet is commanded by more than 8,500 ships flying the flag, According to official data.
Cigarruista indicated in an audio recording provided to the news agency that the AMP’s General Directorate of Merchant Marine has responsibility before the International Maritime Organization (IOM) to conduct all investigations of accidents or accidents occurring on board ships flying the flag of Panama. EFE.
“We coordinate with the local authorities, and in fact the (Panama) embassy and consulate have been in constant contact with the Egyptian authoritiesCigarruista said.
He confirmed that there is already “Sufficient information“To prepare an initial report, it is estimated that it can be prepared.”Over the next 15 or 30 days, depending on how the information continues to flow“.
The container vessel Ever Given, a subsidiary of Taiwanese company Evergreen, which operates under the Panama flag, Has been banned In the southern extension of the canal. The ship is 400 meters long, 59 meters wide, and has a capacity of 224 thousand tons.
“This is a 400-meter ship, and when it loses its ability to maneuver, it falls toward one side and turns out to be touching the bottom of the canal.And the Cigarruista hung when it touched the bottom of the canal it might be pushed by the current or the wind itself and blocking the waterway.
He also confirmed that the captain of the ship “was definitely responsible for navigation,” but stressed that in the Suez Canal, “there are pilots who advise the captain during the crossing in this area, and there were two pilots in this area. The present time.”
The Panamanian official ruled out imposing penalties for this incident Because “all of these ships have an insurance policy,” and “there was no pollution, no injuries and structural damage to the vessel,” carrying 20 thousand containers.
“It looks really shocking given the size of the boat. They are issues that don’t happen in the seas every day, nor are they very common, but when they do, they don’t give a bigger alert as long as there is no pollution,” he said.
The Suez Canal Coordination Office of the Dubai-based Gulf Agency indicated this Of the 30 ships scheduled to cross the canal yesterday heading north, 15 are “at a standstill” at its southern entrance..
Present day, Another 30 ships have been registered to cross the canal from south to north and are waiting In a statement, the GAC added that the corridor had been cleared.
Meanwhile, 35 ships were on their way to sail from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, and 13 of them were allowed to pass to the central region, where they would wait in the Great Lake until the southern part of the canal was opened.
(With information from EFE)
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