HAPAG-LLOYD's merger with UASC has created an entity with a combined fleet of 230 vessels that have a total transport capacity of 1.6 million TEU. The average capacity of the ships has risen by 1,000 TEU, from 5,860 to 6,839 TEU.
Thanks to the many practically new vessels that UASC is bringing into the combined company, the "new" Hapag-Lloyd will have the youngest fleet among all of its large competitors, with the average ship age falling from 8.5 to 7.2 years. In contrast, the vessels of the 15 leading companies in the container shipping sector have an average age of 8.3 years.
Young ships represent a competitive advantage because their modern technology and intelligent design allow them to sail in an especially fuel-efficient manner which also helps minimise emissions.
The fleets of UASC and Hapag-Lloyd are almost a perfect match because both shipping companies had chiefly invested in ships of different sizes in recent years. For example, until now, Hapag-Lloyd did not have any ships with capacities of 15,000 TEU or more.
Six of UASC's ships, each with a capacity of 19,870 TEU, sail for the THE Alliance in the Far East service between Asia and North Europe. nother 10 UASC vessels (including newbuildings delivered in 2017) can take on up to 15,000 TEU. Before the merger, the largest ships in Hapag-Lloyd's fleet had capacities of 13,200 TEU.
In recent months, Hapag-Lloyd has also newly launched five "Valparaiso Express"-class vessels, each of which can transport 10,500 TEU and were specifically designed to meet the requirements of the new Panama Canal and the often rather shallow ports of South America. They will predominantly sail between North Europe and Latin America, and each of them boasts 2,100 reefer slots.
These vessels are a good complement to the seven 9,300 TEU ships that the Chilean shipping company CSAV brought into the fleet when it merged its container activities with Hapag-Lloyd in 2014. These ship mainly sail between Asia and the west coast of North America and Latin America.
Yet another special feature of Hapag-Lloyd's fleet is the five 3,237 TEU ships that sail for Area US Flag under the American flag. These vessels transport cargo under a contract with the US government.
In addition to ultra-large, large and medium-sized vessels, the fleet also include a series of small but powerful vessels for short sea shipping.
