Taipei - Evergreen Marine has released an updated notice reiterating its firm policy against conducting business with individuals or entities on international sanctions lists. The Taiwanese shipping company emphasized it will not engage with any party directly subject to applicable sanctions regimes, nor with entities that are more than 50% owned by sanctioned parties.

In its latest compliance guidelines, Evergreen Marine stated it will not accept shipper-owned containers (SOC) that may expose the company to sanctions risks. Customers are required to conduct due diligence to ensure container owners or SOC prefix holders are neither sanctioned parties nor entities established under the laws of Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or Syria. The company maintains a restricted list of prohibited SOC prefixes, though the specific details remain confidential.

When handling co-loading arrangements with partner carriers, Evergreen noted it will adhere to each partner's respective sanctions compliance policies and prefix restrictions. While the company is not obligated to verify container ownership backgrounds, it reserves the right to request additional documentation from customers for verification purposes. Evergreen may reject SOC bookings at its sole discretion if adequate information is not provided.

This policy update follows Evergreen's initial sanctions advisory issued in August 2024. The stricter measures come amid ongoing Red Sea disruptions that have forced vessels to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope, adding 15-20 days to transit times. Combined with evolving U.S. trade policies and continued Middle East tensions, these developments have significantly increased compliance risks for global carriers.

Industry analysts view Evergreen's move as a proactive step to mitigate potential operational disruptions, including route cancellations, cargo detentions, and legal penalties. By strengthening its sanctions screening processes, the company aims to maintain business continuity and supply chain reliability during this period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The policy reflects a broader industry trend where shipping companies are transferring more compliance responsibilities to their customers through enhanced due diligence requirements.

Editor's Note: Evergreen's complete list of prohibited SOC prefixes is shared exclusively with business partners and not published publicly for security reasons.