Bold Move By Hamburg Sud

SAN FRANCISCO—A positive note was sounded for all of the shipping industry when Hamburg Sud conducted its first Chilean Christening in its 137-year history last week. Amid much fanfare, the legendary German liner launched a container ship in Valparaiso, putting the world on notice that it is not among the doomsayers in this economic downturn.

The Cap Graham is one of a series of three identical 4,294 TEU charter vessels of Norddeutsche Reederei H. Schuldt. Together with her two sister ships, the Cap Gilbert and Cap Gregory, as well as Hamburg Sud’s Bahia class vessels, the Cap Graham is sailing in Sling 1 of the Hamburg Sud liner service between Asia and South America West Coast.

Sponsor of the Cap Graham was Elizabeth McPherson Cisternas, corporate executive vice president logistics and marketing services for Codelco Chile — the largest producer and exporter of copper worldwide. 
The news comes after the shipping group officially initiated its Costa Container Lines (CCL) brand with the Hamburg Süd name this year. As LM readers will recall, this was done to “harmonize all its operations and exploit synergies,” which in the end, should provide additional value for shippers.

At a time when so many vessel operators are “risk averse,” this bold move is welcome news indeed.