The long-established Hamburg shipping line Hapag-Lloyd named a containership in
Malaysia for the first time. The patron of the 336m long “Kuala Lumpur Express” is Ursula
Adrion, wife of Adolf Adrion, member of the executive board of Hapag-Lloyd AG. The
“Kuala Lumpur Express” can carry 8,749 TEU and is the second ultra-modern training ship
on which Hapag-Lloyd trains its nautical and technical personnel, following the identical
“Chicago Express”, which entered service in February 2006. Both mega containerships are
among the largest vessels of their type worldwide.
In addition to her crew of 24, the “Kuala Lumpur Express” carries 15 upcoming seafarers
and two trainers on board. The heart of the additionally installed training deck is a
multimedia training room. A training workshop is also provided in the engine room. This
year, another six groups will start their education on board of both training ships, including
young apprentices as officers assistants, ship mechanic trainees and future engineers on
watch.
Hapag-Lloyd is thus underlining its traditionally strong commitment in the training area. In
recent years, the company has continuously increased the number of training places it has
offered. A total of 56 young persons began their training in the marine area at Hapag-Lloyd
in 2007, and the figure will be up to 75 this year. In the past ten years, Hapag-Lloyd has
given close on 300 young persons training opportunities on board. The total number
including traineeships on land (commercial and industrial occupations) is more than 560.
“Our sector has a huge need for young technical and nautical staff, and, given the
optimistic growth forecasts, this requirement will tend to increase in the next few years,”
commented Hapag-Lloyd executive board member Adolf Adrion. “Containershipping offers
young persons a very interesting working environment with excellent career prospects and
a secure future.”
According to the international economic research institute Global Insight, container
transport volume worldwide will surge to 158m standard containers (TEU) by 2012,
corresponding to annual average growth of 6.8%. An overall 114m TEU were shipped
worldwide in 2007. “We are consistently expanding our fleet. We will be taking delivery of
an additional 14 newbuildings up to the end of 2011,” stated Michael Behrendt, CEO of
Hapag-Lloyd AG.