Cargo Ship Runs Aground in US, a Year after Sister Vessel Blocked Suez Canal

The Ever Forward (pictured) has the same owners as the Ever Given, which clogged up the Suez Canal last year. (EPA)
The Ever Forward (pictured) has the same owners as the Ever Given, which clogged up the Suez Canal last year. (EPA)
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Cargo Ship Runs Aground in US, a Year after Sister Vessel Blocked Suez Canal

The Ever Forward (pictured) has the same owners as the Ever Given, which clogged up the Suez Canal last year. (EPA)
The Ever Forward (pictured) has the same owners as the Ever Given, which clogged up the Suez Canal last year. (EPA)

The Ever Forward container ship is currently grounded in the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore, according to the US Coast Guard, nearly a year after another ship run by the same company blocked the Suez Canal for six days.

The container ship is operated by Evergreen Marine Corp Taiwan Ltd, the same Taiwanese transportation company that operates the Ever Given. The Ever Given ran aground last March, blocking traffic in the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest waterways and the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.

The Coast Guard received reports on Sunday that the Ever Forward was grounded and is now conducting checks every four hours to ensure the safety of the crew on board and marine life, according to Petty Officer 3rd Class Breanna Centeno.

The Coast Guard says the ship is grounded outside of the canal and is not blocking the traffic of other container ships.

Evergreen Marine said in an emailed statement that the incident had not caused a fuel leakage, and did not block the navigation channel or disrupt traffic entering or leaving the port.

"Evergreen is arranging for divers to conduct underwater inspections to confirm any damage to the vessel, and is coordinating with all the concerned parties to refloat the ship as soon as possible," it said.

"The cause of the incident is under investigation by the competent authority."



Hard-Liner Ben-Gvir and His Party’s Other Israeli Cabinet Members Submit Their Resignations

Israeli far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, delivering a statement to the media, at his ministry headquarters in Jerusalem, 16 January 2025. (EPA)
Israeli far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, delivering a statement to the media, at his ministry headquarters in Jerusalem, 16 January 2025. (EPA)
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Hard-Liner Ben-Gvir and His Party’s Other Israeli Cabinet Members Submit Their Resignations

Israeli far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, delivering a statement to the media, at his ministry headquarters in Jerusalem, 16 January 2025. (EPA)
Israeli far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, delivering a statement to the media, at his ministry headquarters in Jerusalem, 16 January 2025. (EPA)

The party of Israel’s hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said its Cabinet ministers submitted their resignations from the government on Sunday in opposition to the Gaza ceasefire deal.

The departure of the Jewish Power party from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government does not bring down the coalition or affect the ceasefire. But Ben-Gvir’s departure destabilizes the coalition.

Israel announced Sunday the ceasefire would not come into effect as planned until Hamas hands over the list of hostages set to be freed later in the day as part of its commitments under the deal.

The delay on the first day of the ceasefire underscored the fragility of the internationally mediated deal.