Evergreen - the rise of a container giant
The entrepreneurial retired captain from Taiwan who established an international shipping empire
On 29th December 2021, Ever Alot, at the time the world's largest container ship with a capacity of 24,000 TEU, was successfully undocked at China's Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard.
The Evergreen A class is a series of 14 giant container ships being built for Evergreen Marine - six by Samsung Heavy Industries, of South Korea and eight by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) at two shipyards in China. The 399.99m long vessels are the latest generation for what is one of the world’s leading shipping companies.
Now the world’s seventh-largest liner operator, Evergreen’s container shipping business comprises Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd, Italia Marittima SpA, Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd, Evergreen Marine (Hong Kong) Ltd, Evergreen Marine (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Evergreen Marine (Asia) Pte Ltd.
The fleet has a capacity of over 1.35 million TEU, comprising 113 owned ships and 88 chartered vessels. Another 34 vessels are expected to be delivered between now and 2026 including twenty 15,000 TEU vessels and five 23,000 TEU ships from Samsung Heavy Industries, two 1,800 TEU ships from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, three 23,000 TEU ships from Jiangnan Shipyard and two 23,000 TEU ships from Hudong-Zhonghua.
In the beginning
Where did this great shipping company start out? The Evergreen empire dates back to the 1960s when Taiwanese Captain Yung-Fa Chang retired from the sea and decided to start his own shipping company.
Born on 6th October 1927 in Su'ao, Taihoku Prefecture while Taiwan was under Japanese rule, Chang’s family moved to Keelung when he was seven. After graduating from Taipei Commercial High School at the age of 18, he worked in the Taipei office of a Japanese shipping line. After World War II, Chang joined the seagoing staff of a local shipping company as third officer, sailing with various local companies as he rose to the rank of captain.
In 1961, Chang and some friends jointly established a shipping company and, having helped this to develop, he decided to branch out on his own, on 1st September 1968, with a single vessel, the Central Trust. A second ship was added a year later with more vessels following during the 1970s. Sailings were to the Middle East, East Asia and Central America. The USA was added as a destination in 1974 when the Evergreen Marine Corporation (New York) Ltd. was established.
Central Trust, the first vessel in 1968 (Credit: Shipspotting.com)
In 1981, the parent company changed its name to Evergreen International SA (EIS), as it increased its global expansion efforts. In 1984 Chang surprised the container industry by announcing a round-the-world service operating in both directions. This was operated by 20 Ever G class ships, the majority of which could carry 2,728 TEU.
Along the way other companies were established and acquisitions made. Uniglory Marine Corp. (Taiwan) was set up in 1984, the Hatsu Marine Ltd. (UK) in 2002, and the Italian shipping company Italia Marittima (previously Lloyd Triestino), acquired in 1993.
A fortuitous accident
Like many shipping companies, Evergreen has had the odd accident, most recently the blocking of the Suez Canal for six days in March 2021 by the Ever Given. An earlier incident with unexpected results was the loss overboard of 12 containers by the Ever Laurel in 1992 in a storm. 28,800 yellow rubber ducks “escaped” into the Pacific Ocean and have been drifting ashore ever since, making appearances in places such as Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Indonesia, Chile, and even Scotland. Today, up to 2,000 are thought to be floating around in circular currents called gyres, providing oceanographers with highly useful data on currents.
More than just a shipping company
Although its roots remain in shipping, Evergreen has expanded into other areas including aviation and the hotel industry, as well as establishing numerous shipping agencies around the world, manufacturing containers, and providing road haulage services.
In September 1988, Evergreen chairman Chang announced his company would establish Taiwan's first private international airline. Upon receipt of regulatory approval, EVA Airways Corporation was formally established in March 1989 and began operations on 1st July 1991. Initial destinations from Taipei were Bangkok, Seoul, Jakarta, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Today it is Taiwan's second-largest airline. The company has also developed a chain of nine international hotels sited in Taiwan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, and France as an adjunct to its airline business.
In 1985, the then 58-year-old Chang, established the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation which operates a symphony orchestra and a maritime museum and provides scholarships and charitable assistance, fulfilling Chang’s ambition to give something back to society. Captain Yung-Fa Chang died on 20th January 2016 in Taipei City.
John Barnes is a journalist and author and former editor of Marine Engineers Review.