01 November 2017

Hapag-Lloyd to recycle three of UASC’s oldest container ships

As it seeks greater efficiencies and consolidation of the fleet following its acquisition of United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), Hapag-Lloyd has announced that it will send three of UASC’s oldest ships for ‘green scrapping’ in China and Turkey.

The three container ships, Deira, Najran and Sakaka, have been part of the Hapag-Lloyd fleet since its merger with UASC at the end of May, but were delivered to UASC from Japanese shipyards in 1997 and 1998.

With a TEU capacity of 4,101, the ships are too small to remain viable in the mainline shipping sector, and a little too large to be effectively operated as feeder vessels.

Hapag-Lloyd, since 2004, has been pursuing its internal Ship Recycling Policy whereby ships which are no longer needed must be recycled in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

Hapag-Lloyd said the ships are being taken from the market as they no longer fit with its portfolio.

“As one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies, we are aware of our ecological and social responsibilities,” said Anthony Firmin, chief operating officer (COO) of Hapag-Lloyd.

Hapag-Lloyd in 2015 sold 16 of its fleet’s older units, which were also disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

Source: 28 September 2017

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