03.03.08
Mrs Herwig, Mr Herwig,
Senator Lemke,
Chief City Councillor Beneken,
Mayor Schulz,
Ladies and gentlemen!
On behalf of Hapag-Lloyd, I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to you all once again at our naming ceremony dinner in honour of our patron. We’re delighted that you’ve taken the time to celebrate this fine event with us here in the Park Hotel.
Mrs Herwig, I’d like to welcome you here in Bremen once again. You named the “Bremen Express” extremely charmingly, as well as with the requisite verve. I’m confident that with this naming ceremony you’ve ensured that the ship and her crew will always be blessed with good fortune and have good voyages – no matter where the “Bremen Express” happens to be on the seven seas.
Mr Herwig, I think it wouldn’t be exaggerating to say that Röhlig freight forwarders and Hapag-Lloyd are linked not only with a long-standing partnership but also with a very similar company history. Both were founded in the 1850s in Bremen – your company in 1852 by the businessman Carl Röhlig, ours in 1857 with the establishment of the Norddeutscher Lloyd, which merged with Hapag in 1970. Both firms were active in emigrant business at that time and both re-established their business after two terrible wars practically from nothing – inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the old Hanseatic League and demonstrating impressive business acumen. Both Röhlig and Hapag-Lloyd have always responded promptly to profound changes and waves of innovation in the logistics sector. Mr Herwig, your company is a splendid proof that this, coupled with a long-term strategy for continuity, represents a decisive key to success.
A warm welcome to you, Senator Lemke, Chief City Councillor Beneken, Mayor Schulz.
Hapag-Lloyd is also linked with Bremen’s ports by more than 150 years of shipping and company history. One of our original companies, the Norddeutscher Lloyd, was, as I mentioned, based in Bremen’s ports. Today, we are one of their three largest customers. Last year, we transhipped almost 365,000 TEU here – an increase of twelve percent compared with the previous year. Including our Alliance partners, for which we mostly find the terminals that can be used in Europe, the figure was over 631,000 TEU – more than 13 percent of total container transhipment in Bremerhaven. The number of vessels calling at the port has also increased. Hapag-Lloyd ships tied up as many as 158 times in Bremerhaven last year, compared with 110 times in 2006 and 82 in 2005. I’m sure you’ll agree with me that this is very gratifying growth.
Ladies and gentlemen, as shipping lines we have to have a long-term strategy and think well ahead, as usually several years elapse between the ordering of new ships and their delivery. We are to take delivery of a further 15 newbuildings of the same size as the “Bremen Express” up to the end of 2011. And we are also already planning for the years after that date. The 15 vessels already ordered will all be built by our long-standing shipyard partner Hyundai Heavy Industries, which also built the “Bremen Express”. Dear Mr. Kim, dear Mrs. Kim, we are honoured to have you with us here in Bremen. Thank you very much for building and delivering such a fine vessel as the “Bremen Express”. We’re looking forward to receiving our next ships from you!
As you see, ladies and gentlemen, Hapag-Lloyd is looking optimistically ahead. Demand for transport services will continue to grow, with global container transport generally expanding twice as fast as world trade. That is because production capacities continue to be shifted to other countries. This is a trend that is far from over. And transport volume within specific economic regions, such as Asia, is expanding all the time. Globalisation ensures prosperity in these regions and in its wake growing consumption. These goods have to be transported – mostly by containerships like the “Bremen Express”. Container transport within Asia is already one of the highest-volume areas in our industry.
Yet, ladies and gentlemen, even if business is always an exciting subject, it won’t be the only one on this special day. For Hapag-Lloyd, you, our customers, are traditionally the focus of our attention, particularly when a new ship is being named. Your orders ensure the utilisation of our ship capacities, for which I’d like to thank you most sincerely. And we’d be delighted if you stay loyal to us in the future. We’ll be expanding our fleet continuously to ensure you continue to receive optimal service.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for having given us the time and the honour to join us in naming the “Bremen Express”, and I’d now like to ask you to stand and raise your glasses with me in a toast to the well-being of our patron, to the Bremen region and to the “Bremen Express“.
Dear Mrs Herwig, you are always warmly welcome on board your ship. For the crew it will be an honour to welcome you on the “Bremen Express” in future – wherever that might be in the world. I’d now like you to come over to me so that I can present you with the naming gift as token of our gratitude.
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