What Happened to Ever Given | Final Report Released by Panama Maritime Authority

What Happened!

What's Going on With Shipping?
July 14, 2023

#supplychain #suezcanal #evergiven #panama #container #containership #shipping

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00:00 Introduction
02:30 Executive Summary
07:32 Objectives of Report
08:17 Details of Ever Given
09:20 Voyage Details
09:59 Environmental Conditions
10:45 Rules of Navigation of the Suez Canal
12:57 Ever Given at Anchor...and Follows a Unique Track!
16:30 Breakdown of Ever Given Transit in the Suez Canal
24:08 Ever Given Salvage and Damage
25:49 Crew Fatigue and Drug & Alcohol
27:17 Causes Theories
33:26 Root Causes & Conclusions
37:47 Recommendations
41:35 Wrap-Up

Ever Given Report Highlights Suez Canal Pilots’ Role in Grounding

Final Investigation Report Ever Given 23 March 2021

Controversial track of the container ship Ever Given that blocked Suez Canal

Ever Given 2D plus 3D

[Gregorius]

"Pilot induced oscillation" is a good approximation of what happened.

[Nwmariner]

As a state-licensed pilot myself (and before that, transited the SC a handful of times as a deck officer), this report brings a lot of second-hand embarrassment of the broader profession, but not surprise given the reputation of SCA pilots even before this.

The lack of fundamental piloting skills, risk assessment and BRM practices should cause a complete new look at how the SCA manages their pilots and standards for ULCVs… but it probably won’t.

Re: the apportionment of blame given to the master… while in a legal sense it’s true that he’s ultimately the one responsible for his ship, it should be well known that in virtually no other part of the world would a captain of a ship that size, in confined waters, be tasked with having to save himself from that extreme of incompetence. The presumption at this level is that you’re going to be provided with competent, safe pilotage service that brings both local knowledge and expert shiphandling. For the SCA (and, frankly, the Panamanian investigators) to partially brush that off as “oh well, it’s your ship Capt!” is almost reprehensible.

I’m also puzzled by the report’s questioning of the pilots giving direct helm and engine orders. That’s the default standard around the world (with some limited exceptions) and, in many places, mandatory. Again, goes back to the presumption of service the captain should expect when the pilot enters the bridge. As alluded to in the timeline, a lot of trust is placed on both sides in a very short amount of time, often between two strangers who have never met.

[loydenochs]

good stuff, Sal! that report does seem to be awfully lenient to the Suez Canal Authority (SCA); as you mentioned, the SCA required tugs for that size vessel, so where were they and why didn't the pilots raise a flag about it? again, excellent follow-up, Sal, and thanks!

[CaptainJerry-]

As a new 2nd mate on board a 3200 GWT passenger vessel heading into Las Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico, my job was to meet the pilot coming aboard. The pilot yelled to me, "Just follow our boat in, I am not coming aboard." Being a nice day and easy open water passage, our Captain agreed. All worked out well. The port got thier "Compulsive Pilotage" paycheck.

[gregbluefinstudios]

Based on the transcript of the Bridge, particularly the Pilots, every company should have a conversation with each ship master, telling them to NEVER trust the pilots, going forward until the Suez Canal Authority can PROVE that their pilots know what they are doing. Almost ANYONE can pilot a ship with no wind, no current, clear visibility. What is the pilot's skillset when conditions are extreme? THAT is the biggest takeaway.

[tak-el-uc]

I agree with the report that there is a lot of blame to go around, especially considering that the master of the vessel is ultimately responsible for the vessel. But it is still difficult for me to get past the fact that the Suez Canal Authority put two seemingly incompetent pilots aboard the Ever Given.

[northerncaptain]

In the Suez Canal I’d not be surprised that the tug escort requirement is simply a method of running up the canal transit bill. If the tugs aren’t provided I’d bet the ship is still charged the cost of the phantom tugs.

[donalddodson]

Great to see how the Channel has progressed and your reach for informing lots of people about maritime issues. Thank you. I am much more informed by watching.

[scottholman]

Seems to me that the reason the report was so long in coming out was the refusal of the Suez Canal Authority to provide requested information. As for the reason the incident happened, the lack of tugs fore and aft is critical. Without tugs, the wind conditions made navigation almost impossible for a vessel the size of the Ever Given. Yes, the pilots were not performing as expected, but again, the lack of tugs was critical.

[eherrmann]

Ok, 1. Why two pilots? was this a training cruise? 2. if the pilots are employees of the SCA, why didn't they seem to know what the hell they were doing? Don't they do this on a daily basis? 3. How does the SCA get to sue Evergreen? seems to me like it should be Evergreen suing the SCA for providing inept pilots that crashed their ship! Granted, the master is ultimately responsible, however, considering that the pilots were breaking bridge protocol by speaking to each other in Arabic, not English, I'd say that there's a good chance that the master had no idea what they were doing.

[bc-guy]

You as 'Talk Show and News Host' just keeps getting better and better Sal. You're funny, entertaining as hell, super well-informed, passionate about this industry, (and life in general it seems!) I had zero knowledge of 'shipping stuff' and didn't know I was interested in that and all you talk about! Like over 100, 000 people (and growing FAST!) It's YOU Dr. Sal. It's a pleasure to have such a fine instructor.

[henkdespermatank]

Captain had me as the helmsman for the last part of the port exit on my first apprenticeship. Taught me how making big corrections only leads to more big corrections and that small rudder changes can keep you within 1 degree of the heading.
Im thinking about that experience while watching this video

[davidkennedy]

I recall one of the Bond movies where they take over the ship as a Pilot and intentially drive it into the dock. This event reminds me of that scene.

[canyonroots]

I started watching in the beginning of your show. Enjoy your style, and temperament and unbiased info.
I have always enjoyed reading sailing stories, especially the tall ships that sailed from north Atlantic, around Africa to Asia.

[purplerunner]

Love it when the approach is: "Let's wing it, and if anything goes wrong, we are gonna play the blame game"

[almac]

The entrance to Portsmouth Harbour in England is narrow. When the two new Royal Navy carriers enter or exit they have a tug connected at bow and stern. The warships will be at 'Harbour Stations', with designated watertight doors closed and the appropriate crewmen closed up in the machinery spaces to act as required in case of emergency, ie, manual control, start and use emergency equipment, etc.. The tugs are extra insurance just in case of something really unexpected. The lack of tugs going through the canal is nothing short of criminal.

[stephenrickstrew]

And … The Capt’n Hazelwood Award for outstanding Ship Groundings .. Without a oil spill .. goes to ..

[williamlloyd]

Seems like MV Ever Given was crabbing its way up the Suez Canal channel. It sounds like the weather noted in the report that morning; just taking the pilots out to the anchorage was hazardous.
PS — Wonder of MV Costco Galaxy, which was immediately in front of MV Ever Given, was also having issues maintaining a track in the channel?
PS2 — if you were to enter in all the perimeters into a ship simulation trainer would it have been possible to safely transit the canal?
PS3 — Does Suez Canal Authority have access to a ships bridge simulator to train pilots or is training just OJT?
PS4 — Is Suez Canal Authority pilot training document available to the public?

[loismiller]

When your two pilots are arguing in Arabic, things cannot be going well. The aerodynamic forces on this giant sail of a cargo ship must have been tremendous.

[brownidlion]

I was there from the start! 💖 your channel and your shirts 😂