Two of the disputes arising from the grounding of the container vessel EVER GIVEN, in the Suez Canal in March 2021 have been jointly listed by The Lawyer in its Top Cases for 2026.

The "Ever Given"  was at the time one of the largest container ships in operation, and her grounding in the Canal, blocking all transit, caused major disruption to international trade. As The Lawyer writes:

“Container ship “Ever Given” became diagonally stranded in the Suez Canal in March 2021 for six days, causing billions in trade losses when more than 400 vessels had to wait to cross the canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.”

The casualty has given rise to numerous claims in various jurisdictions, but perhaps the two most important come on for trial/ hearing this year and appear together in The Lawyer’s Top 20 List.

Admiralty Court proceedings

In SMIT Salvage BV and others v Luster Maritime SA and another, a two-week trial will be heard from 13 July before Mr Justice Andrew Baker. The case concerns SMIT Salvage BV’s claim for salvage remuneration under the International Convention on Salvage 1989, following its role in refloating the vessel after it became stranded in the Suez Canal.

Quadrant members appear on both sides of the dispute:

• For SMIT Salvage BV: Andrew Carruth, alongside Chris Smith KC (Essex Court Chambers), instructed by HFW.
• For the defendants: Nigel Jacobs KC and Caroline Pounds, instructed by Stann Law.

Arbitration

Separately, a three-week London arbitration under LMAA Rules, commencing on 2 November, will determine responsibility for the grounding as between the shipowners/ operators and cargo interests.

The claims, brought by cargo interests including Chubb, will determine the cause of the grounding and consider whether the "Ever Given" was seaworthy in all respects at the time of the incident or whether, as the cargo interests allege, the incident was caused by systemic failings on the part of the vessel’s crew and management, such as to render her unseaworthy.

Quadrant members appear on both sides of the dispute:

•        For the claimants: John Russell KC, Ben Gardner and Joseph Gourgey, instructed by Clyde & Co.
•        For the defendants: Simon Rainey KC, Stewart Buckingham KC and Ruth Hosking, instructed by HFW.