Liner shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd has taken over the operations of German ship manager Hamburger Lloyd.
The move will see technical management of a fleet of 29 container ships taken on by the German liner operator.
The deal allows for the transfer of about 35 staff to the German shipping company.
Hamburger Lloyd managing director Hauke Pane will remain in an advisory role until the handover of the operation next year.
Pane, who founded the company in 2007, told TradeWinds that the deal with Hapag-Lloyd sprang from the sale of Hamburger Lloyd’s last four container ships.
The former 4,620-teu RHL Concordia and RHL Conscientia (both built 2012), RHL Calliditas and RHL Constantia (both built 2013) were sold to Hapag-Lloyd in 2021.
However, Hamburger Lloyd retained technical management of the ships, since renamed Dachan Bay Express, Jakarta Express, Mombasa Express and Arica Express.
Cooperation
A successful cooperation over the past three years led to the addition of another 25 vessels, Pane said.
That left Hamburger Lloyd with 29 vessels under management for Hapag-Lloyd.
These range from small vessels, such as the 600-teu Cabinda Express (built 2010), up to larger vessels of 16,000 teu.
Hapag-Lloyd wanted to acquire the ship management business to merge it into its ship management operation.
“I’m happy and proud that finally this deal, it’s an excellent solution for all employees,” Pane said.
Pane established Hamburger Lloyd in early 2007 after it merged with Befrachtungscontor Hamburg (BCH) in September 2006.
The company was formed with the backing of Hamburg-based bank MM Warburg and German financer Hansa Hamburg as shareholders.
At its peak, the company owned and managed container ships, bulkers and product tankers.
Pane, who is 59, said he will look into other potential projects next year when the handover is completed.
