Chang Yung-fa
Encyclopedia
Chang Yung-fa (1927, Penghu, Taiwan
) is the founder and Group Chairman of the Evergreen Group
.
. After graduating from Taipei Commercial High School
at the age of 18, he went to work in the Taipei
office of a Japan
ese shipping line.
After World War II
, he joined the seagoing staff of a local shipping company as third officer
. His subsequent career was spent with various local companies and he progressed through the ranks to captain
.
In 1961, Dr. Chang and some friends jointly established a shipping company and, having helped this company to develop, he decided to branch out on his own, establishing Evergreen Marine Corporation on September 1, 1968 with just one secondhand 15,000 ton vessel, Central Trust.
Over the next four years, Chang painstakingly built his fleet up to twelve, running them empty when necessary to convince his customers his services were both as regular as clockwork and as reliable as the sunset. Within a year, he had expanded to the Middle East
. Within three, Chang was dispatching Evergreen ships to the Caribbean.
In 1975, Chang realized that containerisation was the way forward. He built four advanced S-type container ships and launched his U.S. East Coast service. Fifteen months later, he added the West coast of the United States
to his network. Europe followed in 1979.
By 1984, he started his most ambitious service yet- two 80-day round-the-world services, one circling the globe in an easterly direction, the other westward. Departing every 10 days, the 20 G-type container ships he employed had a capacity of 2,728 containers each and could travel at a speed of 20.5 knots.
The Evergreen Group has expanded beyond the shipping industry to encompass operations in heavy industrial development, air transport, hotels and resorts services.
The Evergreen Group, with over 27,000 employees and more than 220 offices/agents worldwide, now comprises about 30 major corporations worldwide, 3 of which are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, 1995.
Honorary Doctor of Shipping & Transportation Management from the National Taiwan Ocean University, 1998.
Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from the Nottingham Trent University, 1999.
Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from the National Chiao Tung University, 2000.
Honorary Doctor of Transport and Academician from Russian Academy of Transport, 2007
Honorary Professorship from the University of Houston–Downtown, 2008
Chairman of the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation.
Chairman Of Chang Yung-Fa Charity Foundation.
Advisor to the President of Panama on International Affairs.
Panamanian Honorary Consul-General in Taipei.
Member of the Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine, Management Advisory Committee.
Order Of Chivalry (D.M.P.N.), which carries the title of “Dato”, State Of Penang, Malaysia, 2000.
Officer Of The Legion of Honor, France, 2002.
Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award, Lloyd's List
2006.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire(CBE), UK, 2006.
Kebesaran Panglima Setia Mahkota(PSM), which carries the title of “Tan Sri”, Malaysia, 2007.
Knight of the Grand Cross (Cavaliere di Gran Croce), Italy, 2007
Commander of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
(Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Couronne), Belgium, 2008
Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau, The Netherlands, 2011 Focus Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
) is the founder and Group Chairman of the Evergreen Group
Evergreen Group
The Evergreen Group is the organizational designation used by a Taiwan-based conglomerate of shipping, transportation, and associated service companies. The Evergreen Group arose in 1975 from the diversification of the original Evergreen Marine Corporation, which was established in 1968 and...
.
Biography
In 1927, Chang was born in Penghu, while Taiwan was under Japanese ruleTaiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
. After graduating from Taipei Commercial High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
at the age of 18, he went to work in the Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
office of a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese shipping line.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined the seagoing staff of a local shipping company as third officer
Third Mate
A Third Mate or Third Officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The third mate is a watchstander and customarily the ship's safety officer and fourth-in-command...
. His subsequent career was spent with various local companies and he progressed through the ranks to captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
.
In 1961, Dr. Chang and some friends jointly established a shipping company and, having helped this company to develop, he decided to branch out on his own, establishing Evergreen Marine Corporation on September 1, 1968 with just one secondhand 15,000 ton vessel, Central Trust.
Over the next four years, Chang painstakingly built his fleet up to twelve, running them empty when necessary to convince his customers his services were both as regular as clockwork and as reliable as the sunset. Within a year, he had expanded to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Within three, Chang was dispatching Evergreen ships to the Caribbean.
In 1975, Chang realized that containerisation was the way forward. He built four advanced S-type container ships and launched his U.S. East Coast service. Fifteen months later, he added the West coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
to his network. Europe followed in 1979.
By 1984, he started his most ambitious service yet- two 80-day round-the-world services, one circling the globe in an easterly direction, the other westward. Departing every 10 days, the 20 G-type container ships he employed had a capacity of 2,728 containers each and could travel at a speed of 20.5 knots.
The Evergreen Group has expanded beyond the shipping industry to encompass operations in heavy industrial development, air transport, hotels and resorts services.
The Evergreen Group, with over 27,000 employees and more than 220 offices/agents worldwide, now comprises about 30 major corporations worldwide, 3 of which are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Advanced Degrees
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the California State University, 1990.Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, 1995.
Honorary Doctor of Shipping & Transportation Management from the National Taiwan Ocean University, 1998.
Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from the Nottingham Trent University, 1999.
Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from the National Chiao Tung University, 2000.
Honorary Doctor of Transport and Academician from Russian Academy of Transport, 2007
Honorary Professorship from the University of Houston–Downtown, 2008
Career accomplishments
Founder and Group Chairman of The Evergreen Group.Chairman of the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation.
Chairman Of Chang Yung-Fa Charity Foundation.
Advisor to the President of Panama on International Affairs.
Panamanian Honorary Consul-General in Taipei.
Member of the Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine, Management Advisory Committee.
Order Of Chivalry (D.M.P.N.), which carries the title of “Dato”, State Of Penang, Malaysia, 2000.
Officer Of The Legion of Honor, France, 2002.
Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award, Lloyd's List
Lloyd's List
Lloyd's List is one of the world's oldest continuously-running journals, having provided weekly shipping news in London as early as 1734. Now published daily, a recent issue was numbered 59,200...
2006.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire(CBE), UK, 2006.
Kebesaran Panglima Setia Mahkota(PSM), which carries the title of “Tan Sri”, Malaysia, 2007.
Knight of the Grand Cross (Cavaliere di Gran Croce), Italy, 2007
Commander of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
Order of the Crown (Belgium)
The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
(Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Couronne), Belgium, 2008
Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau, The Netherlands, 2011 Focus Taiwan