Evergreen Marine’s 'Ever Lovely' Struck in Strait of Hormuz; Vessel and Crew Safe

Evergreen Marine Corporation announced that its vessel, the 'Ever Lovely,' was struck on the starboard side of the bridge superstructure while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The incident resulted in minor damage to the eaves and bridge windows, but the crew, vessel, and cargo remain secure. Main engines and navigational equipment remain fully operational, and the vessel has safely exited the Strait.

According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, citing four sources, the Singapore-flagged container ship 'Ever Lovely' was the vessel involved. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the ship was struck by a projectile near Oman. While two U.S. officials suggested to Reuters that Iran may have fired upon the ship, other security sources have speculated that it may have been a drone strike.

Evergreen Marine issued a statement clarifying that the incident occurred at 21:55 Taipei time on the 25th, approximately 3.6 nautical miles southeast of Khawr Naiwah, Oman. The vessel was following the route recommended by UKMTO at the time of the impact.

Following a preliminary inspection by the crew, Evergreen confirmed that the ship remains seaworthy. In addition to the 'Ever Lovely,' two other Evergreen vessels, the 'Ever Unicorn' and the 'Ever Lotus,' have successfully departed the Strait without incident. Evergreen confirmed that there are currently no company-operated vessels remaining within the Persian Gulf.