With China remaining the growth engine in Far East trade, German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd has taken delivery of another 8,750-TEU containership, the Osaka Express, which was recently christened in Hong Kong and will be deployed in the Europe-Far East trade.
"Over a third of containers carried in global transport is accounted for by China. All forecasts indicate continued stable growth. To be able always to provide adequate ship capacity for our customers in Asia, we have invested massively in recent years and will continue to do so in future," said Michael Behrendt, chairman of the executive board of Hapag-Lloyd AG, at the naming ceremony in Hong Kong.
"China remains the locomotive of the world economy, even if growth rates do not remain at the currently high level in the next few years, China still offers considerable potential thanks to its increasingly advanced industrial base and highly trained workforce. Our liner services are the bridge builders linking China with the rest of the world and support the continued growth of foreign trade," Mr Behrendt added.
The 335-metre long and 43-metre wide "Osaka Express", corresponding roughly to the dimensions of three football fields, has also provisions for 730 reefer plugs for refrigerated containers. The vessel can sail at a speed of 25 knots and complete a round voyage between Europe and Asia in 56 days, according to a company statement.
"Over a third of containers carried in global transport is accounted for by China. All forecasts indicate continued stable growth. To be able always to provide adequate ship capacity for our customers in Asia, we have invested massively in recent years and will continue to do so in future," said Michael Behrendt, chairman of the executive board of Hapag-Lloyd AG, at the naming ceremony in Hong Kong.
"China remains the locomotive of the world economy, even if growth rates do not remain at the currently high level in the next few years, China still offers considerable potential thanks to its increasingly advanced industrial base and highly trained workforce. Our liner services are the bridge builders linking China with the rest of the world and support the continued growth of foreign trade," Mr Behrendt added.
The 335-metre long and 43-metre wide "Osaka Express", corresponding roughly to the dimensions of three football fields, has also provisions for 730 reefer plugs for refrigerated containers. The vessel can sail at a speed of 25 knots and complete a round voyage between Europe and Asia in 56 days, according to a company statement.