What Crew Members Say About Ever-Sigma

On November 9, 2025, a maritime incident occurred around 11:20 a.m. when the 'Ever Sigma', a container ship traveling from Tacoma to Vancouver, collided with a recreational craft in the scenic English Bay, located southeast of Lighthouse Park at the southern edge of West Vancouver. The collision resulted in major structural damage to the pleasure vessel, which began to take on water following the impact. Fortunately, both occupants of the recreational boat were rescued and transported to shore by a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) patrol boat, with emergency response teams swiftly coordinating dewatering and towing efforts to stabilize the damaged craft. The pleasure vessel was subsequently moved to Eagle Harbour for necessary haul-out procedures. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries and cargo operations remained unaffected. The 'Ever Sigma' successfully docked at GCT Vanterm on November 10 at 11:20 a.m. UTC. In light of the incident, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) dispatched a team of investigators to the Port of Vancouver to conduct a thorough examination. The VPD has chosen to defer the investigation to the TSB. Following the incident, the 'Ever Sigma' departed Vancouver once more on November 12, headed for Tokyo, with an estimated time of arrival set for November 25.

The Ever Sigma, a prominent vessel in the Evergreen Line fleet, has made maritime history by discharging the 9 millionth TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) at the Port of Los Angeles. This remarkable feat was accomplished within a single year, marking a new pinnacle for container throughput at any port across the western hemisphere. The achievement reflects not only the efficiency of the Ever Sigma but also underscores the significant role the Port of Los Angeles plays in global trade.

On January 24, 2013, the container ship 'Ever Sigma,' while navigating from Greece to the Netherlands, experienced a significant oil spill involving 700 liters of heavy fuel oil. The mishap unfolded when the chief engineer attempted an internal transfer of heavy fuel oil using two pumps. Unfortunately, the fuel was not pre-heated, and crucially, the vessel's master was not alerted about the operation. An alarm issued when the tank reached 336 tonnes (69% full), yet the transfer continued unabated for an additional hour until the fuel level climbed to 417 tonnes (85% full). Disaster struck when the bosun, a senior crew member on deck, performed routine inspections and discovered heavy fuel oil seeping onto the deck through an air pipe. Immediate action was taken to raise the alarm, initiating onboard cleanup procedures that lasted roughly nine hours. Despite their efforts, some of the fuel spilled into the sea, approximately 83 miles off Kalamata, Greece. It was not until 27 hours after the incident that the 'Ever Sigma' officially notified Italian authorities about the spill. The Italian Coastguard instructed the ship to report the matter to Greece, which was duly completed. Upon arriving in Rotterdam, Dutch officials conducted an inspection and initiated their investigation, forwarding the findings to the UK, the flag state, for further handling of the situation. The root cause was identified as the over-pressurization of the tank due to the cold heavy fuel oil pumping, which led to the spillage through the air pipe. Furthermore, deficiencies in the ship’s safety management system were highlighted, with established procedures not being adhered to during the incident. As a result, the operator was fined £10,000, along with costs totaling £7,191.01, and a victim surcharge of £120 after admitting guilt to violations of oil pollution legislation. The proceedings took place on April 29, 2014, at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, where Chairman Mr. Patz remarked on the severity of the situation—pointing out that the incident could have escalated even further had it not been for the bosun's discovery. The court deemed the delay in reporting the spill as unacceptable. However, the operator’s prompt guilty plea, cooperation with the authorities, and unblemished record were acknowledged as mitigating factors. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) expressed gratitude towards Greek and Dutch authorities for their invaluable assistance in resolving this incident.

A tragic incident unfolded in Hong Kong on October 21, 2011, when a 21-year-old Scottish engineering cadet was found deceased aboard the cargo vessel 'Ever Sigma'. The young sailor was discovered in his cabin at 9 a.m., seated in a chair, wearing headphones, with a laptop illuminated in front of him. The cause of this untimely death remains unknown, shrouded in mystery. The 'Ever Sigma', which operates under the Evergreen shipping line, facilitates shipping routes between China and Europe and was navigating the Pacific at the time of the incident. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.