Hapag-Lloyd christens the “Hamburg Express” in the Port of Hamburg: Milestone for Sustainability & Efficiency

The eponymous flagship of Hapag-Lloyd’s "Hamburg Express" class was ceremoniously christened at the Container Terminal Burchardkai in the Port of Hamburg. Eva Maria Tschentscher, Hamburg’s First Lady and the wife of Hamburg’s First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher, served as the naming patron and performed the traditional christening of the container ship. The vessel currently operates on the FE3 Far East service, connecting Asia and Europe.

“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,” explained Rolf Habben Jansen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hapag-Lloyd.

Dr. Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: “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. 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!”.

The "Hamburg Express" is the seventh vessel in a series of 12 newbuildings being constructed at the Hanwha Ocean shipyard in South Korea. With a length of 399 meters and a capacity of 23,660 TEU, these ships are the largest container vessels to sail under the German flag.

Due to their size, innovative design, and LNG dual-fuel engines, the ships in this class are expected to significantly improve efficiency per container transported and reduce emissions by 20 to 25 percent in the near future.