Evergreen Marine’s AI Strategy 2025: A Deep Dive into Autonomous Shipping and Smart Logistics Projects
Evergreen Marine’s Commercial Projects: AI Shifts from Port Automation to Autonomous Fleets in 2025
Evergreen Marine Corporation is accelerating its transition from foundational AI infrastructure to dynamic, at-sea applications, using deep collaborations to establish leadership in maritime autonomy and operational intelligence.
- Between 2021 and 2024, the company focused on capital-intensive, land-based automation, culminating in the August 2023 launch of Terminal 7 at Kaohsiung Port, Taiwan’s first fully automated container terminal integrating AI, 5G, and unmanned vehicles.
- The strategy shifted in 2025 toward proving advanced at-sea AI capabilities through a landmark 10,000 km autonomous navigation trial of the vessel Ever Max with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), demonstrating a clear intent to commercialize autonomous deep-sea voyages.
- This progression is supported by a holistic digitization strategy, including the large-scale deployment of ORBCOMM’s smart container technology in October 2025 and the development of a proprietary AI-powered fuel efficiency management system.
- The company’s approach has evolved from deploying proven, infrastructure-heavy AI applications to actively co-developing and piloting next-generation maritime technologies, linking its massive fleet investments directly to its AI and net-zero goals.
Investment Analysis: Over $13 Billion Funds Evergreen’s AI-Ready Fleet and Digital Ecosystem
Evergreen Marine is dedicating substantial capital, exceeding $13.9 billion, to a strategic fleet modernization and infrastructure program that underpins its AI and digitalization ambitions. These investments are not isolated but form a cohesive strategy to build a fleet of AI-ready vessels and a network of intelligent ports and containers. The billions committed to new LNG and methanol dual-fuel ships serve as the direct platform for integrating advanced systems like Samsung’s Autonomous Ship (SAS), while specific investments in containers and terminal acquisitions provide the necessary assets for a fully digitized supply chain. This spending level confirms that AI is a critical, non-negotiable component of the company’s future market leadership strategy.
Table: Evergreen Marine’s Strategic Investments (2021-2025)
| Partner / Project | Time Frame | Details and Strategic Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet Expansion with LNG Dual-Fuel Vessels | Nov 2025 | Committed up to $2.87 billion for 14 LNG dual-fuel container ships from Guangzhou Shipyard International and Samsung Heavy Industries. These modern vessels are designed as platforms for advanced AI navigation and efficiency systems. | Evergreen Marine splits LNG dual-fuel boxship order … |
| Container Fleet Expansion | Oct 2025 | A subsidiary approved a $50.2 million lease for 33,000 new containers. This is crucial for expanding the company’s smart container program, enabling AI-driven tracking and IoT monitoring across its fleet. | Evergreen Marine Unit Leases 33000 Containers Worth … |
| Acquisition of Chartered Vessels | Mar 2025 | Spent over $1 billion to acquire ten chartered container vessels. This move enhances fleet control, allowing for standardized implementation of AI technologies and efficiency protocols across a larger owned fleet. | Evergreen Marine Corp’s Strategic Move |
| Order for 24,000 TEU LNG Dual-Fuel Boxships | Mar 2025 | Invested up to $1.6 billion for six 24,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel vessels from Hanwha Ocean. These ships are designed to incorporate the latest energy-saving and AI-powered operational technologies. | Evergreen places US$1.6Bn order for six LNG dual-fuel … |
| Investment in 11 LNG Dual-Fuel Megaships | Feb 2025 | Ordered 11 LNG dual-fuel 24,000 TEU ships for up to $3.25 billion from Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries, deepening relationships with shipbuilders at the forefront of AI and autonomous tech integration. | Evergreen orders 11 LNG dual-fuel megaships |
| New Containers Purchase | Nov 2024 | Purchased 60,500 new containers for $186.7 Million to support a growing fleet. This is essential for implementing AI-enhanced container tracking and inventory management systems. | Evergreen splashes US$ 186.7m on new containers |
| Methanol Dual-Fuel Containerships | Jul 2023 | Confirmed an order for 24 methanol dual-fuel containerships for up to $5.04 billion. These vessels will be equipped with modern AI-driven systems for fuel optimization and predictive maintenance. | Evergreen Marine Confirms $5bn Order of 24 Containerships |
| Colon Container Terminal (CCT) | Nov 2022 | Acquired a 100% stake in the Panama-based terminal for $268 million to strengthen its presence in the Americas and create a new node for deploying AI-driven efficiency improvements. | Evergreen Marine buys 100% stake in Panama terminal for … |
| New Container Ships | Sep 2021 | Ordered 24 container ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong for up to $1.1 billion, expanding the fleet and necessitating advanced, AI-powered logistics and operational planning tools. | Evergreen Marine Orders 24 Container Ships |
Partnership Analysis: Evergreen Marine Builds an AI Ecosystem with Samsung, PSA, and ORBCOMM
Evergreen Marine’s partnership strategy is centered on co-developing and deploying AI technologies with industry leaders, moving beyond simple adoption to create an integrated ecosystem for autonomous navigation, smart logistics, and intelligent port operations. The deep collaboration with Samsung Heavy Industries on autonomous systems, the joint venture with PSA Singapore for automated terminals, and the commercial agreement with ORBCOMM for smart containers are the pillars of this strategy. These alliances demonstrate a focus on building a vertically integrated technology stack, from the vessel’s bridge to the customer’s cargo.
Table: Evergreen Marine’s Key Technology and AI Partnerships (2022-2025)
| Partner / Project | Time Frame | Details and Strategic Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yang Ming and Wan Hai Lines | Nov 2025 | Jointly launched the new CIM (China-Indonesia/Malaysia) service. Such alliances increasingly rely on AI-driven platforms for vessel deployment optimization, capacity sharing, and competitive service offerings. | Yang Ming Launches New North China-Indonesia Service … |
| ORBCOMM | Oct 2025 | Began equipping its entire dry container fleet with ORBCOMM’s smart container technology to provide real-time visibility into cargo status, with AI-driven alerts for security and integrity. | Evergreen adopts ORBCOMM tech for smart containers |
| Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) | Sep 2025 | Successfully completed a 10,000 km trans-Pacific trial of Samsung’s AI-based autonomous navigation system, SAS, on a container vessel, proving the system’s ability to save fuel and maintain schedules. | AI-Based Autonomous Navigation Guides Boxship During Pacific Crossing |
| Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) | Jul 2025 | Implemented a virtual reality (VR) training system from SHI to enhance crew skills and safety in handling advanced LNG dual-fuel vessels equipped with complex AI-driven operational systems. | SHI, Evergreen team up on VR dual fuel vessel seafarer … |
| Chunghwa Telecom | May 2025 | Partnered to implement smart container operations at the seventh container terminal of Kaohsiung Port, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and automation in port logistics. | Evergreen Marine and Chunghwa Telecom team up for smart container operations |
| PSA Singapore | Jan 2025 | Launched a joint venture to operate container terminals with a focus on fostering advancements in digital innovation and sustainability, leveraging AI to improve operational effectiveness at a key global hub. | PSA Singapore and Evergreen Marine Launch Joint … |
| Navis (a Kaleris company) | Jan 2022 | Entered a partnership to use Navis’s software to enhance stowage operations, a complex logistical problem where AI can significantly improve vessel stability, port turnaround times, and fuel efficiency. | Evergreen and Navis enter into a new partnership to lift … |
Geographic Focus: Evergreen Marine Expands its AI Operations from Taiwan to a Global Scale
Evergreen Marine has expanded its AI development and deployment focus from a concentrated base in Asia to a global operational footprint, using key strategic hubs to pilot and scale its technologies.
- From 2021 to 2024, the company’s primary geographic focus for AI implementation was Taiwan, highlighted by the 2023 launch of the fully automated Terminal 7 at Kaohsiung Port, which served as its flagship intelligent infrastructure project.
- Starting in 2025, the geographic scope broadened significantly. The company launched a joint venture with PSA Singapore in January 2025 to operate an intelligent terminal in one of the world’s busiest transshipment hubs, signaling an intent to replicate its automation strategy in a key international location.
- The successful 10,000 km autonomous navigation trial across the Pacific Ocean in 2025 marked a critical expansion from land-based AI in Asian ports to dynamic, at-sea AI application on a major global trade lane connecting Asia with North America.
- Collaborations in 2025, including the CIM service with Yang Ming and Wan Hai, further strengthened its AI-optimized network within the intra-Asia trade corridor, connecting China, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Technology Maturity: Evergreen Marine Advances AI from Terminal Automation to Commercial-Scale Autonomous Navigation
Evergreen Marine’s AI strategy has matured from deploying commercially available automation systems to piloting and scaling proprietary, next-generation autonomous technologies for deep-sea operations.
- In the 2021-2024 period, the company’s focus was on the commercial deployment of proven AI applications, most notably the launch of the fully automated Kaohsiung Terminal 7 in 2023, which integrated existing technologies like remote-controlled cranes and unmanned vehicles.
- The technology application progressed significantly in 2025, with the successful 10,000 km autonomous navigation trial of the Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS) system. This moved AI from a controlled port environment to a dynamic deep-sea setting, validating its capability for collision avoidance and route optimization at a near-commercial scale.
- The large-scale deployment of ORBCOMM’s smart container technology across its dry container fleet in October 2025 represents a shift to full commercial scaling of IoT and AI for end-to-end supply chain visibility.
- The company’s development of a proprietary AI-powered fuel efficiency system and the implementation of VR training for crews on AI-equipped vessels in 2025 show a deepening internal capability to manage and operate advanced AI systems across its fleet.
SWOT Analysis: A Strategic Review of Evergreen Marine’s AI Initiatives
Table: SWOT Analysis of Evergreen Marine’s AI Strategy (2021-2025)
| SWOT Category | 2021 – 2024 | 2025 – Today | What Changed / Resolved / Validated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Pragmatic AI adoption focused on proven operational ROI (e.g., Kaohsiung Terminal 7). Strong capital position enabling large-scale fleet modernization. | Demonstrated leadership in co-developing next-generation AI (10,000 km autonomous trial). Massive investment in an AI-ready fleet (over $7.7 billion in 2025). Deep partnerships with tech leaders like Samsung Heavy Industries. | The strategy evolved from adopting existing AI to pioneering new applications. The successful autonomous trial validated its R&D partnership approach and established a clear competitive advantage in maritime autonomy. |
| Weaknesses | AI strategy heavily focused on a single, capital-intensive project (Kaohsiung Terminal 7). Technology application was primarily limited to land-based port automation. | High reliance on a few key partners for critical technology (SHI for autonomy, PSA for terminals). Massive CAPEX commitments create financial exposure in a cyclical industry. | While successful, the 2025 partnerships deepen reliance on external tech providers. The risk is now less about technology viability and more about managing these critical dependencies for long-term scalability. |
| Opportunities | Leveraging AI for stowage optimization (Navis partnership). Using IoT for reefer fleet monitoring (Sekstant gateways). | Scaling autonomous navigation across a massive new vessel order book. Integrating AI with green shipping goals (net-zero 2050). Replicating the smart terminal model globally (PSA Singapore JV). | The successful SAS trial in 2025 unlocked the opportunity to make autonomous navigation a fleet-wide standard. AI is now explicitly linked to the company’s sustainability targets, creating a dual value proposition. |
| Threats | Complexity of integrating new technologies across a diverse, global fleet. Competition from other carriers investing in digitalization. | Pace of technological change could make multi-billion dollar vessel investments obsolete. Geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty around autonomous shipping. | The 10,000 km trial helps mitigate regulatory risk by providing operational data. However, the accelerated pace of AI development remains a threat to long-term asset value. |
Forward-Looking Outlook: Scaling Autonomous Shipping and Smart Terminals in 2026
Evergreen Marine’s most critical strategic action for the year ahead is to transition its successful AI pilots into scalable, fleet-wide commercial standards, focusing on autonomous navigation and intelligent terminal operations.
- Following the successful 10,000 km trial with Samsung Heavy Industries, the key milestone to monitor is the commercial deployment of the Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS) system across Evergreen’s massive order book of new, AI-ready vessels.
- The launch of the OCEAN Alliance “Day 9 Product” in April 2025, deploying approximately 390 vessels, will serve as a major test for the alliance’s underlying AI and data analytics platforms used for network optimization.
- Progress at the new joint venture terminal with PSA Singapore will be a leading indicator of Evergreen’s ability to replicate the AI-driven efficiency model of Kaohsiung’s Terminal 7 on a global scale.
- Watch for more explicit disclosures on how AI is being used to optimize the performance of its new LNG and methanol-fueled vessels as the company moves closer to its 2050 net-zero target.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest shift in Evergreen Marine’s AI strategy for 2025?
In 2025, Evergreen shifted its AI focus from foundational, land-based port automation (like the Kaohsiung Terminal 7) to dynamic, at-sea applications. The key example is the successful 10,000 km autonomous navigation trial with Samsung Heavy Industries, demonstrating a clear strategic pivot towards commercializing autonomous fleets.
How are Evergreen’s multi-billion dollar investments in new ships connected to its AI strategy?
The company’s investments, exceeding $13.9 billion in new LNG and methanol dual-fuel ships, are foundational to its AI strategy. These modern vessels are specifically designed as ‘AI-ready’ platforms, built to integrate advanced systems like Samsung’s Autonomous Ship (SAS) and proprietary AI-powered fuel efficiency tools, directly linking fleet modernization with digitalization goals.
Who is Evergreen’s key partner for autonomous navigation technology?
Evergreen’s key partner for autonomous navigation is Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). Their collaboration led to the successful trans-Pacific trial of Samsung’s AI-based autonomous navigation system, SAS, on an Evergreen container vessel, proving its capability for collision avoidance and fuel savings over long distances.
Besides autonomous ships, how else is Evergreen using AI and smart technology?
Evergreen is implementing a holistic digitization strategy beyond just ships. This includes the large-scale deployment of ORBCOMM’s smart container technology for real-time cargo tracking, partnerships with PSA Singapore to create intelligent port terminals, and using Navis’s software for AI-enhanced stowage planning to improve vessel efficiency.
What was Evergreen’s most significant AI project before the shift to at-sea applications in 2025?
Before 2025, Evergreen’s flagship AI project was the launch of Terminal 7 at Kaohsiung Port in August 2023. This was Taiwan’s first fully automated container terminal, integrating AI, 5G, and unmanned vehicles, and it represented the culmination of the company’s initial focus on capital-intensive, land-based automation.
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