Photo credit: Hapag-Lloyd
Germany’s container giant Hapag-Lloyd held last week the naming ceremonies of its newest vessels, the “Singapore Express,” at the port of Tuas, in Singapore and the “Iquique Express” at the New Times Shipyard, in China.
The naming ceremony in Singapore was successfully completed in the presence of a number of over 230 distinguished guests, including the German Ambassador to Singapore, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng from the Ministry of Transport, Dr. Yeo May May, and Ong Kim Pong the Group’s chief executive of PSA International.
“We extend our heartfelt wishes to the captains and crew members of the “Singapore Express” and “Iquique Express”, fair winds, calm seas, and safe sailings on their voyages ahead,” said the container liner in a short statement.
Photo credit: Hapag-Lloyd
Last year, Hapag-Lloyd’s first dual-fuelled LNG ultra large containership, Berlin Express, called at the port of Singapore during its maiden voyage.
Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport & Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, in his remarks at Hapag-lloyd’s vessel naming ceremony of the Singapore Express highlighted the fact that Hapag-Lloyd has been a longstanding partner of Maritime Singapore.
“Hapag-Lloyd’s Singapore office was established in 1991 as their foray into the Asian market. Today, Singapore is a major shipping, transhipment, and commercial hub for the Group in the region,” the Senior Parliamentary Secretary said.
“Singapore is also a key bunkering hub for the Group, and we hope to be able to support the Group’s maritime decarbonisation journey in the years ahead as Singapore adopts a multi-fuel transition strategy,” Baey Yam Keng added.
The two new units of Hapag-Lloyd “Singapore Express” and “Damietta Express” which was also christened recently, are two of the dozen new 23,600 teu ultra large container vessels that the company added to its fleet portfolio.
Both vessels will sail in the Far East-North Europe trade, strengthening the company’s position on this key route.
