Establishing the precise cause of the grounding of the MV Ever Given on the Suez Canal on Tuesday remains a key question facing an ever-growing list of parties to the incident, and is likely to have significant legal implications, potentially costing billions of dollars, international lawyers say. 

Japanese vessel owner, ship-leasing firm Shoei Kisen KK, said Thursday it was facing 'extreme difficulty' in re-floating the grounded vessel, in cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority, Denmark-based tug operator and Maersk subsidiary, Svitzer A/S, and other agencies.