Evergreen Faces Back-to-Back Container Incidents in S. America

Evergreen Marine, Taiwan’s largest container shipping company, has experienced two major container losses in South American waters within a single week.

The first incident occurred on August 1 when the 8,500 TEU Ever Lunar lost roughly 50 containers overboard while at anchor near Callao, Peru. The ship encountered unexpected severe rolling, causing stacks at the stern to collapse into the sea. This disruption led to a temporary shutdown of port operations at Callao, with both DP World and APM Terminals halting their services.

In response, the National Port Authority dispatched patrol vessels Costa Sama and Río Chira, alongside tugs Ram Vigo and Tiamat, to assist with the situation. Officials confirmed that the overboard cargo did not contain any hazardous materials. Operations at the port resumed by mid-afternoon that day.

There are unverified claims that the Ever Lunar may have been at the quay—either loading or unloading—when it was urgently ordered to leave the port due to a tsunami alert issued on Friday. This abrupt departure may have occurred before all containers were properly secured.

Just days earlier, on July 29, another Evergreen vessel—the 12,100 TEU Ever Feat—suffered a container collapse while navigating rough seas between Brazil and Uruguay. An estimated 30 to 40 containers were either lost or damaged, with some reportedly carrying fertilizer, prompting authorities to enforce safety measures for hazardous materials. The ship docked safely in Montevideo, where salvage crews and local officials began inspecting and handling the affected cargo.