02.10.2023

HHLA welcomes Berlin Express at Burchardkai

Today, Germany’s largest container vessel, Hapag-Lloyd’s “Berlin Express“ was christened at Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG‘s (HHLA) container terminal Burchardkai (CTB) in Hamburg on 2nd October 2023.

Elke Büdenbender, wife of German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, took over the launching of the Berlin Express at CTB during a formal ceremony. Together with her eleven sister ships, the vessel is part of a new environmentally friendly series of Hapag-Lloyd, that will be equipped with dual-fuel technology. This will enable the vessels to be powered by LNG and use non-fossil fuels such as e-methane in the future. With a length of approx. 400 meters and a width of 61 meters, it can carry around 23,700 containers and is thus currently one of the largest containerships in the world.

Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of HHLA's Executive Board: “We are honored to welcome the Berlin Express at HHLA's Container Terminal Burchardkai and to launch her christening in her home port of Hamburg. Due to the innovative drive technology of the Berlin Express, CTB is a very fitting place for the ceremony, as there, we are currently building the next climate-neutral terminal for Hamburg and are committed to a sustainable transformation of the container business.”

In December 2023, the Berlin Express is expected to call at Container Terminal Burchardkai again.