News / Evergreen declares General Average on stricken Ever Forward

Ever Forward in Chesapeake Bay. Photo: Matthew Abbot at Baltimore Shipspotting

Following the failure to refloat the 12,000 teu Ever Forward this week, Evergreen announced, today that, with the increasing costs of the salvage operation, it had declared General Average.

The carrier said: “Evergreen Line has been making every effort to refloat the stranded ship on behalf of the common interests of cargo owners and the safety of all involved.

“In light of the increasing costs arising from the continued attempts to refloat the vessel, Evergreen declared General Average today.”

Ever Forward ran aground on the evening of 13 March in Chespeake Bay as the ship was departing the port of Baltimore. The vessel operates on Evergreen’s East Asia-US east coast service.

Another attempt to free the vessel is due to start on Sunday. In the meantime, salvage teams are working to remove mud from alongside and below the vessel.

It is understood that, should this second attempt fail, equipment will be brought in by salvage company Donjon-Smit to unload some of the containers still aboard.