“Hamburg Express”, the flagship vessel of Hapag-Lloyd’s “Hamburg Express” class, was officially christened at the Container Terminal Burchardkai in Germany’s Port of Hamburg.
Hamburg’s First Lady, Eva Maria Tschentscher—wife of First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher—served as the ship’s naming patron and performed the ceremonial christening. Currently operating on the FE3 Far East route between Asia and Europe, “Hamburg Express” is the seventh in a series of 12 new ships under construction at the Hanwha Ocean shipyard in South Korea.
“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, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd.
Measuring 399 meters in length and with a capacity of 23,660 TEUs, these ships are the largest container vessels to fly the German flag. With their immense size, advanced design, and LNG dual-fuel engines, this new class of ships is set to enhance transport efficiency per container and cut emissions by 20 to 25% soon.
“The Hamburg Express is a flagship for the world-class shipping company Hapag-Lloyd and Hamburg is 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!” stated Dr. Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
