Hapag-Lloyd Launches Largest Ship, Wilhelmshaven Express, Boosting Germany's Container Industry

The *Wilhelmshaven Express* is Hapag-Lloyd's largest and most eco-friendly ship yet. It's set to revolutionize container shipping in Germany.

, and Administrator

2025 October 29 . 11:06 AM

1 min read

In this picture there is a ship in the bottom left side of the image on the water and there is... — In this picture there is a ship in the bottom left side of the image on the water and there is water at the bottom side of the image, there is a wooden dock on the right side of the image.

Hapag-Lloyd christens mega containership 'Wilhelmshaven Express' - Hapag-Lloyd Launches Largest Ship, Wilhelmshaven Express, Boosting Germany's Container Industry

Hapag-Lloyd has launched its final and largest container ship, the Wilhelmshaven Express, in the Hamburg class series. This vessel, the first to bear the name of the German port city, is a significant addition to the company's fleet and a testament to its commitment to Wilhelmshaven's container terminal.

The Wilhelmshaven Express is a colossal ship, capable of carrying 23,660 standard containers. It is equipped with a dual-fuel engine, allowing it to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 25 percent compared to conventional marine diesel. This eco-friendly feature aligns with Hapag-Lloyd's sustainability goals.

The vessel was christened by Wibke Friedrichs-Firmin, wife of former Hapag-Lloyd executive board member Anthony Firmin. Michael Behrendt, chairman of Hapag-Lloyd’s supervisory board, noted that this was the first time a Hapag-Lloyd ship bore the name Wilhelmshaven. The ship will primarily serve as a transshipment hub at JadeWeserPort in Wilhelmshaven, Germany's only deep-water port. Lower Saxony’s Minister-President Olaf Lies praised the port's development and expansion to accommodate such mega-ships.

The Wilhelmshaven Express will operate on the high-volume Far East route between Asia and Europe as part of the Gemini Cooperation alliance.

The launch of the Wilhelmshaven Express marks a significant milestone for Hapag-Lloyd and the port of Wilhelmshaven. This state-of-the-art vessel, with its advanced engine and substantial capacity, will play a crucial role in Hapag-Lloyd's global operations and the growth of Germany's container shipping industry.