Hapag-Lloyd has christened Hamburg Express, the eponymous flagship of its new class of container ships, at Port of Hamburg’s Container Terminal Burchardkai in Germany.
The ship is part of the FE3 Far East service connecting Asia and Europe.
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Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said: “With the ‘Hamburg Express’ we are setting new standards in technology and sustainability. She will reinforce our status as the number one in quality and efficiency for our customers, especially on the strategically important Far East-Europe routes.”
Spanning 399m and having a capacity of 23,660 TEU, Hamburg Express is the seventh of 12 newbuilds from the Hanwha Ocean shipyard in South Korea. They represent the largest container ships to sail under the German flag.
These vessels are set to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions by 20% to 25%, owing to their size, innovative design, and LNG dual-fuel engines.
Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher said: “The Hamburg Express is a flagship for the world-class shipping company Hapag-Lloyd and for Hamburg as a strong and cosmopolitan port city. The ship class sets new standards in sustainability and economic efficiency, making shipping even more climate-friendly.
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By GlobalData“This is in line with the objectives of Hamburg’s port strategy and climate protection policy. The naming of the ship underlines the deep connection between Hamburg and Hapag-Lloyd, which goes back more than 175 years. I wish the Hamburg Express and her crew safe voyages and always enough water under the keel!”.
In other recent developments from the German liner, the Gemini Cooperation Agreement, a partnership between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, has commenced ahead of its scheduled February 2025 start.
This development comes despite the lingering concerns expressed by the US Federal Maritime Commission.
The two shipping giants have disclosed potential network plans, which hinge on whether ships will continue to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope come February.
This new alliance is poised to supersede Maersk’s existing 2M agreement with MSC, signalling a significant shift in the maritime shipping alliances landscape.
