Longtime customer extends port contract for another five years

Shipping giant Evergreen America, one of the Port of Charleston’s largest and oldest customers, has signed a new contract extending its 30-year relationship with the South Carolina State Ports Authority for another five years.

Evergreen America Corp. is North America general agent for three of the world’s leading ocean carriers: Evergreen Marine, Lloyd Triestino and Hatsu Marine.

The steamship line is owned by Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine Corp., which was recently awarded Best Shipping Line – Intra-Asian Trade at the annual Asian Freight and Supply Chain awards. This is the second consecutive year Evergreen has been so honored.

Evergreen boasts a fleet of more than 100 container vessels serving more than 80 countries. Its shipping network links the Port of Charleston to trading companies in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

On a related note, the Honda all-terrain vehicle plant in Timmonsville has decided to move all of its container shipments through the Port of Charleston. Previously, it had shipped about half of its freight through other ports.

The news comes as port industry professional are gathering in Charleston for the South Carolina International Trade Conference, which kicks off this afternoon and continues through Wednesday.