The Evergreen Marine is a highly successful international organization and a leader of the maritime industry of container movement. It has affiliated companies in maritime, land, and air transportation. Its operation dates back to 1968, when its founder and chairman Chang Yung-fa established the Evergreen Maritime Corporation of Taiwan with one second-hand cargo ship. Along with its affiliates servicing routes, Evergreen International S.A. of Panama, and Uniglory Marine Corporation, this organization is currently considered one of the largest groups dedicated to containerized cargo transportation in the world. By the end of 2001, its fleet is scheduled to reach 134 vessels suited to carry 360,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit).
In 1973, Chang Yung-fa established the Evergreen Transportation Corporation for container movement by land in Taiwan. Shortly thereafter, in 1975, he launched maritime services for container movement from the Far East to the East Coast of the United States. One of his main achievements was the unprecedented establishment of a double service for container movement around the world in 1984. That year, Chang established the Evergreen Heavy Industry Corporation for the manufacture of containers and trailer bodies. Another affiliated company, the Evergreen Container Terminal Corporation, also operates a container terminal.
In 1991, the Evergreen Group launched airline EVA Air to the market. With this new segment, the company turned into a world-class diversified corporation, covering markets on land, sea, and air. It also established hangars for airplane maintenance, training centers for airplane and ship pilots, an airport terminal administration service, and its own hotel, laundry, and restaurant chains. The Evergreen International Corporation is in charge of supervising and coordinating activities for the 20 affiliated Evergreen companies around the world.
Evergreen vessels with capacity for 4,200 TEUs make weekly East and Westbound journeys around the world. Evergreen's main routes link North America, Asia, and Europe and extend services to South America, South Africa, and Australia. In July 2000, Evergreen began an additional weekly cargo transportation service between Asia and the Atlantic Coast of North America via the Panama Canal. Nine ships that arrive at ports in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Panama, and the United States service the new route in a journey that lasts 63 days.
In his book Tides of Fortune, Chang Yung-fa says, "Many times I've been asked why does it seem like everything touched by Evergreen turns into gold. The truth is that our success has neither been a miracle nor a fairy tale; it was the result of true hard work, of the unflappable spirits of many people within the company, and of a sensible and realistic attitude." Despite his many commitments, Chang Yung-fa was member of the Panama Canal Advisory Board until January 2001. The Panama Canal Advisory Board was established in 1999 as a forum formed by international community first-order leaders who contribute with their opinions and expertise to improve the future of the waterway.
Evergreen vessels, told apart by their green waterline, are a familiar sight at the Canal. One of Evergreen's affiliates on the Atlantic side, Unigreen Marine, S.A., is in charge of managing the Colon Container Port. The Evergreen Building in Panama City accommodates the company offices, as well as local businesses, apartments, and the luxurious Evergarden restaurant.
Based on a combination of number of transits and total tolls paid, Evergreen was the Canal's number six client during fiscal year 2000.
