Feature Image: © Marine Traffic
The Taiwanese shipping line Evergreen Marine Corp has experienced two serious incidents involving its container vessels off the South American coast, with both events prompting operational scrutiny and raising environmental concerns.
The first case involved the Ever Feat, a modern, 12,100 TEU containership, which arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay following major cargo damage sustained during severe winter weather late on 28 July.
As the vessel sailed south from Navegantes, extreme winds and high waves near Rio Grande do Sul caused 30 to 40 containers to become crushed, displaced, or left precariously hanging over the side. Authorities and observers reported that the situation resulted in two 40-foot containers dangling dangerously over the port side and a visible pile of damaged boxes.
Fortunately, investigations suggest no crew members were harmed during the incident.
Upon docking in Montevideo on 29 July, the port authority and coast guard set up an exclusion zone around the Ever Feat to safely manage and remove compromised cargo. Early assessments revealed that some containers contained fertiliser, prompting careful monitoring for potential environmental impact.
Ongoing salvage operations are being undertaken by Montecon with support from firefighters, surveyors, and other port agencies. Classification society representatives have boarded to check the ship’s structural integrity and lashing, seeking to determine whether rough weather and vessel movement exceeded the stability limits of the cargo.
While there is no confirmation that containers went overboard, Evergreen stated: “We’re cooperating fully with all relevant maritime authorities and classification bodies.” Insurance claims have been initiated and a comprehensive damage review is underway.
Just days later, Evergreen’s Ever Lunar lost around 50 containers overboard while at anchor off Peru’s Port of Callao at 9.40 AM on 1 August.
The company confirmed all crew were safe but reported that the vessel experienced intense rolling, suspected to have been triggered by adverse sea conditions – including the recent tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Russia, harsh weather, or sudden wave surges.
Port official Amilcar Velasquez stated that none of the overboard containers held hazardous goods, with most loaded with plastic products, ruling out an immediate pollution threat. “So far, we have observed that the containers carried plastic products, and we have ruled out the possibility that these goods will cause pollution to the ocean,” Velasquez commented.
Evergreen is cooperating fully with local port authorities as investigations continue.
