Hapag-Lloyd christens mega container ship Wilhelmshaven Express in port

Hapag-Lloyd christens mega container ship Wilhelmshaven Express in port

On October 28, 2025, there was a real maritime celebration at JadeWeserPort, as the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd named its newest container ship, the “Wilhelmshaven Express”. With an impressive capacity of 23,660 standard containers, this ship not only demonstrates the strength of German shipping, but is also the twelfth and final ship of the Hamburg class. The special moment was staged by Wibke Friedrichs-Firmin, the wife of former Hapag-Lloyd board member Anthony Firmin, who acted as godmother.

How stern.de reports, Lower Saxony and JadeWeserPort in particular are proud of this new addition. Hapag-Lloyd has been involved in the container terminal in Wilhelmshaven since 2022 and has established a close partnership with port development with the construction and commissioning of the ship. Prime Minister Olaf Lies highlighted that the JadeWeserPort recently reached the mark of one million containers handled - a sign of the region's flourishing economy.

Technological innovations

The “Wilhelmshaven Express” not only impresses with its dimensions – the almost 400 meter long and 61 meter wide ship also comes with modern technology. Equipped with a dual-fuel propulsion system that can run on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine diesel, the ship aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 25 percent compared to conventional propulsion. This environmentally friendly technology shows that Hapag-Lloyd has a good hand when it comes to sustainable shipping.

The ship also features a wind and wave deflector that reduces drag and increases fuel efficiency. This innovation is particularly important because it serves the industry's goal of working with lower emissions and thereby making a contribution to climate protection. The “Wilhelmshaven Express” is used on the Far East service between Asia and Europe and is part of the “Gemini Cooperation” between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

A new star in the container sky

With the christening of the “Wilhelmshaven Express”, Hapag-Lloyd is not only taking a step into the future, but is also consolidating Germany’s place as a key player in global trade. The ship is operated as part of the New Europe Route (NE1) and the Asia Route (AE2) and ensures that goods are moved quickly and efficiently between the continents. It makes the Eurogate Container Terminal in Wilhelmshaven one of the main transshipment points for the mega freighter and shows that German engineering and maritime transport solutions go hand in hand.

The great importance of this project for the region is underlined by the fact that the “Wilhelmshaven Express” is not only a technical marvel, but also a symbol of economic dynamism and French trade relations. The shipping world is looking forward to the developments in the JadeWeserPort and the successes that the mega freighter will bring with it.

For anyone interested in the maritime economy, this exciting development will be an ongoing theme. It remains to be seen how the restructuring in the shipping industry will develop and what new perspectives will arise. The JadeWeserPort, with its impressive balance sheet, will remain more than just a transshipment point in the future - it will become a hub for economic cooperation and innovation in the maritime sector.