The 8,508 TEU capacity “Ever Lunar”, built in 2011, was about to enter the Peruvian port of Callao on August 1 when heavy rolling caused around 50 containers to fall into the water.
The incident occurred just three days after the “Ever Feat” collapsed off Rio Grande, Brazil, and lost around 40 containers.
The port authorities immediately established an exclusion zone around the “Ever Lunar” to facilitate the salvage the containers. The ship, operating on Evergreen’s West Coast service between Asia and South America, remains anchored in Callao.
In an offical statement, Evergreen stated that the “Ever Lunar” was preparing to enter Callao at approximately 9:40 a.m. local time on August 1 when sea conditions became “unfavorable.”
The Taiwanese liner operator said the recent earthquake in the Russian Far East and the South American winter had made for rough seas.
Evergreen explained: “Suddenly, there was a strong swell that caused the ship to roll, causing containers to fall overboard. The crew and ship are safe. The company will assist the port authorities with their investigation.”
Meanwhile, local fishermen reportedly looted some of the drifting containers, as seen in images circulating on social media. The cargo primarily consisted of consumer goods, and no hazardous materials were identified among the lost boxes, according to Amilcar Velasquez, Director of the Peruvian Port Authority. As a result, the risk of chemical pollution is considered low.
