Hamburg Sud christening of the 'Monte Rosa' in Korea

Following delivery of the "Monte Rosa" at the Daewoo yard in South Korea on 14 March 2005 - and a positioning voyage in the Asia - South America East Coast Service - the fourth of a total of six 5,552 TEU container ship newbuildings will be phased into Hamburg Sud's Europe - South America East Coast Service on 30 April 2005 in Buenos Aires.

This signals the start for Hamburg Sud's new service concept. Together with the "Monte Rosa", three sister vessels, which return from interims charter employment will be phased into the Europe - South America East Coast Service during May 2005. The new weekly service will be completed by newbuildings Five and Six, which will be delivered from the yard in June and August 2005.

These vessels, which are exceptionally large for the South America trade, allow a far-reaching rationalization. They enable the number of 16 ships presently deployed in three weekly strings to be reduced to 12, which will subsequently operate in two slings. There will be no increase in the operational slot capacity as a result of these rationalizing measures. The weekly deployed slot capacity remains at approximately 6,000 TEU.