THE Evergreen-operated container ship Ever Given that grounded and blocked the Suez Canal for six days in March will need repairs, according to Singapore's Splash 247..

The vessel, which is travelling at lower speeds for Rotterdam, was allowed to leave the canal on July 7 after a protracted legal fight over compensation between the ship's owner, Shoei Kisen, and the Suez Canal Authority.

The Ever Given spent five days at Port Said undergoing a class survey carried out by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) before leaving for northern Europe on July 12.

Evergreen said last week that the ship has to travel at lower speeds in order to follow the guidance outlined in its seaworthiness certificate. As a result, the decision was taken to drop the Ever Given's Hamburg port call because of concerns surrounding navigation safety.

While it remains unclear what needs fixing, Splash can reveal that the huge 20,388 TEU box ship will need repairs.

An ABS spokesperson said: "ABS provided an initial assessment of the vessel prior to its departure from Egypt noting items that would require future repair. ABS, in conjunction with the flag state, issued short-term certificates for the voyage to Rotterdam and continues working with the owners regarding a repair plan."

Latest reports say the ship was heading west past Tunisia at 11.8 knots, scheduled to arrive at Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, on July 25.