Evergreen Marine Corporation
A Taiwanese container shipping company operating a global liner network under the Evergreen brand.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Evergreen Marine Corporation is a Taiwanese container transportation and shipping company headquartered in Luzhu District, Taoyuan City. Founded by Chang Yung-fa on 1 September 1968, the company began with a single cargo vessel and developed into one of the largest container liner operators in the world. Its principal business is the scheduled movement of containerized cargo between major ports, supported by container and ship construction, port operations, logistics activities, engineering, and related real-estate interests. The company is a core transportation enterprise within the Evergreen Group, a Taiwanese conglomerate whose associated businesses include aviation, logistics, maritime services, and other transport-related activities. Evergreen Marine’s liner operations are commonly presented under the Evergreen Line identity. The operating structure has historically included or incorporated Uniglory Marine Corporation of Taiwan, Evergreen UK in the United Kingdom, and Italia Marittima in Italy. In 2007, these businesses adopted a common Evergreen Line name, consolidating a group of previously distinct shipping brands and divisions under a more unified commercial identity. Evergreen’s network connects East Asian manufacturing and trading centers with North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Mediterranean, Australia, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and other Asian markets. Key route groupings include East Asia–North America and East Asia–Central America and the Caribbean; East Asia–Northern Europe and the Mediterranean; transatlantic services between Europe and North America; intercontinental services linking East Asia with the Southern Hemisphere; and intra-Asian services. The company states that its ships call at hundreds of ports across a broad international network. Its activities also involve transshipment hubs and container terminals in Taiwan, Panama, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions. Evergreen became notable in the container industry for its early emphasis on regular international liner services, including a bi-directional round-the-world service introduced in 1984. The company expanded its fleet and geographic coverage during the 1970s and 1980s, adding routes to East Asia, the Middle East, Central America, and the United States. Its U.S. presence was strengthened in 1974 through the establishment of Evergreen Marine Corporation (New York) Ltd. The parent organization changed its name to Evergreen International S.A. in 1981 as the group pursued broader international expansion. The company’s visual identity is strongly associated with green containers and vessels marked with white Evergreen lettering. Refrigerated containers generally use a contrasting white-and-green treatment, while containers associated with Uniglory historically used orange coloring. Evergreen’s ships and brand entered wider public awareness through several maritime incidents involving vessels in its fleet. In 1992, the loss of the Ever Laurel contributed to the release of thousands of rubber bath toys into the Pacific Ocean. In 2021, the Ever Given became lodged in the Suez Canal, disrupting a major global trade artery and attracting worldwide attention. The Ever Forward later grounded in Chesapeake Bay in 2022 before being refloated after dredging, lightering, and salvage efforts. Evergreen Marine remains an active publicly listed Taiwanese shipping company. Its competitive position depends on fleet capacity, network density, schedule reliability, port access, equipment availability, fuel and operating costs, freight-market conditions, and compliance with increasingly demanding environmental and safety standards.
History
Evergreen Marine Corporation was established by Chang Yung-fa on 1 September 1968 in Taiwan. Its first operation used a single cargo vessel, the Central Trust, in a flexible service intended to call at different markets rather than follow a narrowly specialized route. A second vessel was added in 1969 for Middle Eastern services. During the 1970s, Evergreen expanded its fleet and progressively added routes linking Taiwan and other East Asian ports with the Middle East and Central America. In 1974, the company established Evergreen Marine Corporation (New York) Ltd., supporting the development of services to the United States. As containerization transformed international trade, Evergreen concentrated on regular liner operations and built a larger fleet capable of serving major intercontinental corridors. In 1981, the group’s parent organization changed its name to Evergreen International S.A., reflecting a broader international expansion strategy. In 1984, Evergreen introduced a bi-directional round-the-world service, an important step in presenting the company as a global rather than primarily regional carrier. The company also expanded through affiliated and acquired maritime businesses. Uniglory Marine Corporation became associated with Evergreen operations in Taiwan, Hatsu Marine was added in the United Kingdom in 2002, and the Italian company Italia Marittima, formerly Lloyd Triestino, became part of the broader Evergreen maritime structure in 1993. The group’s shipping businesses operated under several names for many years. In 2007, Evergreen Marine, Hatsu Marine, Italia Marittima, and related divisions adopted the common Evergreen Line name. This created a more consistent customer-facing identity while retaining operational and corporate structures in different jurisdictions. The company’s containers and ships became recognizable through their predominantly green livery and white lettering. Uniglory equipment historically used orange, while Evergreen refrigerated equipment commonly used white containers with green lettering. Evergreen continued to expand its fleet during the 2000s. It operated 61 container vessels in 2002, within a larger fleet of approximately 130 vessels, and operated 178 container vessels in 2008 according to historical company information cited in reference material. In 2009, the company announced plans for substantial additional vessel construction in anticipation of a recovery in global trade. The company’s activities have extended beyond liner shipping to include container and ship construction, terminal and port management, engineering, logistics, and related property development. Several incidents involving Evergreen vessels later made the company especially visible outside the shipping industry. In 1992, the Ever Laurel lost a container holding nearly 29,000 Friendly Floatees bath toys in the Pacific Ocean. In January 2019, the Ever Summit collided with a crane; no deaths or injuries were reported in the cited reference. On 23 March 2021, the Ever Given became stuck in the Suez Canal, producing a major interruption to maritime traffic until salvage teams refloated the vessel after nearly a week. On 13 March 2022, the Ever Forward grounded in Chesapeake Bay. Evergreen declared general average after early refloating attempts failed, and the ship was eventually freed on 17 April after cargo removal and dredging. Today, Evergreen Marine operates a broad international container network under the Evergreen Line identity. Its business remains exposed to shipping cycles, port congestion, fuel prices, equipment supply, vessel construction costs, geopolitical disruptions, environmental regulation, and changing global trade patterns. The company is listed in Taiwan and remains part of the Evergreen Group.
- 2022
Ever Forward is refloated
[1]After grounding in Chesapeake Bay, the vessel is freed following lightering and dredging work.
- 2021
Ever Given obstructs the Suez Canal
[2]The vessel becomes lodged in the canal and is freed after an extended salvage operation.
- 2007
Evergreen Line identity is adopted
[1]Several Evergreen maritime divisions consolidate their customer-facing identity under the Evergreen Line name.
- 1992
Ever Laurel loses a container of bath toys
[1]Nearly 29,000 Friendly Floatees enter the Pacific after a container is lost overboard.
- 1984
Round-the-world service begins
[1]Evergreen launches its first bi-directional circumnavigation container service.
- 1981
Parent organization changes name
[1]The parent organization adopts the name Evergreen International S.A. during a period of international expansion.
- 1974
U.S. operations are established
[1]Evergreen Marine Corporation (New York) Ltd. is established as the company develops services to the United States.
- 1969
Middle East service expands
[1]A second vessel is added and used on Middle Eastern routes.
- 1968
Evergreen Marine is founded
[1]Chang Yung-fa establishes Evergreen Marine Corporation on 1 September in Taiwan.
- 1968
The first vessel begins service
[1]The Central Trust begins the company’s early flexible cargo service.
Products and positioning
A large Taiwanese global liner carrier positioned around broad network coverage, scheduled container transportation, fleet scale, and integrated maritime and logistics capabilities.
Container liner service · 1968
Evergreen Line container shipping
Evergreen’s core offering is scheduled ocean transportation of containerized cargo. The network links manufacturing, distribution, and consumption centers across Asia, North America, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Services are organized around published port rotations and vessel schedules, with transshipment used to connect ports that are not served directly.
Specialized freight
Refrigerated container services
Evergreen transports temperature-sensitive cargo in refrigerated containers, commonly called reefers. These services support food, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and other controlled-temperature shipments. Evergreen’s reefer equipment has historically used a white exterior with green lettering, distinguishing it visually from the company’s standard green containers.
Port and logistics service
Transshipment and terminal services
The company’s network includes transshipment hubs and container-terminal activities that support the transfer of cargo between ships and connect regional services with long-haul routes. Reference material identifies operations or facilities in Taiwan, Panama, Europe, the Middle East, and other locations.
Maritime infrastructure
Container and ship construction
In addition to operating vessels, Evergreen Marine’s activities have included the construction and management of containers and ships. These capabilities support fleet renewal, equipment availability, and the operational requirements of a large international liner network.
Brand decisions
2022
General average declared for Ever Forward salvageOtherBackground
The Ever Forward remained grounded in Chesapeake Bay after two initial attempts to refloat it had failed.
Action taken
Evergreen declared general average while containers were removed and dredging was conducted to reduce the vessel’s draft and clear a path.
Aftermath
The ship was successfully refloated on 17 April 2022.
2007
Unification under the Evergreen Line identityStrategyBackground
Evergreen-affiliated maritime businesses operated under several historical names and corporate divisions.
Action taken
Evergreen Marine, Hatsu Marine, Italia Marittima, and associated operations adopted a common Evergreen Line identity.
Aftermath
The change created a more consistent international brand while the businesses continued to operate through different jurisdictions and structures.
1984
Launch of a bi-directional round-the-world serviceStrategyBackground
Evergreen was expanding from regional services into a genuinely global liner network.
Action taken
The company introduced eastbound and westbound circumnavigation services linking major maritime markets.
Aftermath
The service strengthened Evergreen’s global positioning and demonstrated the scale of its international network.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Evergreen Line launches GreenX digital platform[4]
Reported:
Evergreen Line launched GreenX, a digital platform that lets customers obtain freight quotes, book secured space, and manage shipping procedures online. The initial offering covers routes from Asia to several global regions.
Sources5 sources
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