Evergreen Ship Faces Container Collapse off Brazil

An Evergreen-operated container vessel, Ever Feat, has called at Montevideo, Uruguay after sustaining serious cargo damage caused by intense winter weather conditions off the coast of southern Brazil.

The incident, which occurred late on 28 July while the ship was voyaging south from Navegantes, saw 30 to 40 containers crushed, dislodged, or left dangerously overhanging the deck.

Reports from port authorities and maritime observers indicate the vessel encountered severe winds and high waves near Rio Grande do Sul.

The resulting forces triggered a collapse across at least two container bays, with images showing two 40-foot units precariously suspended over the vessel’s port side and a tangled pile of damaged boxes behind them.

Investigations so far suggest no crew members were injured during the event.

Upon arrival in Montevideo on 29 July, local officials – including Uruguay’s National Port Administration and coast guard – established an exclusion zone around the ship to facilitate safe handling and removal of compromised cargo.

Initial assessments have revealed that some of the affected containers carried fertiliser, raising concerns about hazardous material management and potential environmental consequences.

Salvage operations are being led by Montecon in collaboration with firefighters, surveyors, and port stakeholders. Classification society representatives have boarded the ship to inspect hull integrity, lashing equipment, and investigate the cause of the collapse.

Evergreen Marine Corp confirmed, “We’re cooperating fully with all relevant maritime authorities and classification bodies”.

While it remains unclear whether any containers fell overboard, insurance claims have been initiated, and a full damage review is ongoing. Experts attribute the incident to possible internal stress from vessel rolling and pitching in rough weather, exceeding the designed stability limits for deck cargo.

The Ever Feat is a modern, 12,100 TEU vessel built in 2021 and part of Evergreen’s new generation of F-class containerships.

In connection with Evergreen’s recent challenges, Maersk previously reached an out-of-court settlement with Evergreen and Shoei Kisen Kaisha – the owner and operator of the Ever Given – regarding the six-day blockage of the Suez Canal in March 2021. The legal action, which sought compensation for disruptions to the supply chain caused by the incident, was concluded with the terms of the settlement remaining confidential.

An Evergreen vessel experiencing a container collapse off Brazil has disrupted sea freight operations in the region. The incident highlights the persistent risks in maritime shipping and the potential ripple effects on cargo schedules and supply chains.

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