A severe container stack collapse aboard the Ever Feat, a 12,100 TEU containership operated by Evergreen Marine, has prompted an emergency port call in Montevideo after the vessel was battered by rough seas off the southern coast of Brazil.
The incident occurred late on July 28, 2025, as the Ever Feat sailed southward from Navegantes, Brazil. According to multiple maritime tracking sources and port officials in Uruguay, the vessel encountered forceful winds and high waves near Rio Grande do Sul—an area frequently hit by intense winter storms. The resulting damage was substantial: two container bays were heavily affected, with between 30 and 40 units crushed, bent, or dislodged. At least two 40-foot containers were left hanging precariously over the vessel’s port side, risking loss overboard.
The Ever Feat, part of Evergreen’s modern F-class fleet and flying the Liberian flag, was delivered in 2021 by Imabari Shipbuilding. It measures 334 meters in length and is among a new generation of mid-sized mega-ships deployed on north-south trades. Despite the dramatic collapse, there were no reported injuries among the crew.
Visual evidence taken from both dockside and aerial footage confirmed the extent of the structural damage, including twisted lashing bars, crushed container walls, and visibly distorted fittings on deck. The vessel diverted from its planned route and arrived at the Port of Montevideo on July 29, where port authorities and surveyors began immediate assessment.
Initial inspections revealed that at least some of the damaged containers were carrying fertilizer products—raising red flags for potential hazardous material handling and environmental risks. As a precaution, containment and clean-up protocols were triggered alongside a full cargo review. The nature of the collapse suggests internal system stress caused by extreme rolling and pitching, possibly exceeding the vessel’s designed stability limits.
Montevideo port officials confirmed that classification society surveyors boarded the ship early on July 30. Their work includes verifying hull integrity, checking for leaks of hazardous materials, and examining damaged lashing equipment. “We’re cooperating fully with all relevant maritime authorities and classification bodies,” a spokesperson for Evergreen Marine said in a brief preliminary statement issued that afternoon.
The incident highlights growing concern within the container shipping industry about the increasing frequency of stack collapses, particularly during periods of adverse weather. Investigators are expected to review voyage data, cargo securing logs, and weather routing decisions. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that a comprehensive internal review is underway at Evergreen, including assessments of whether loading and lashing protocols were correctly implemented before departure.
The South Atlantic corridor—especially between Brazil and Argentina—is known for unpredictable winter conditions. Experts suggest that climate change and intensified weather systems are complicating traditional shipping schedules and safety procedures. “These aren’t once-a-decade storms anymore,” one regional maritime safety analyst said. “They’re seasonal, and they’re violent.”
In recent years, incidents of container loss and deck stack collapses have drawn heightened scrutiny from insurers and regulators. Questions are being raised over vessel stability under heavy weather, adequacy of lashing systems, and the increasing size of vessels plying challenging routes. The Ever Feat incident serves as a reminder that size alone doesn’t guarantee safety.
Operations in Montevideo continue as surveyors, port engineers, and cargo specialists work to safely remove the unstable containers and assess the broader impact. Further updates from Evergreen Marine, port authorities, and investigators are expected in the coming days.
