Hapag-Lloyd Celebrates 175 Years

On May 27, 175 years ago, shipowners and merchants founded the Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (Hapag). Hapag-Lloyd AG was formed in 1970 through the merger with Norddeutscher Lloyd from Bremen. Further acquisitions followed, such as Canadian Pacific (2005), CSAV (2014), UASC (2017), NileDutch (2021), and the intended acquisition of the container division of DAL (2022). Today, Hapag-Lloyd is the fifth-largest container shipping company in the world and the largest shipping company in Germany.

(Hamburg) “Our anniversary fills us with great pride,” says Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd AG. “As with many traditional companies, our history is also characterized by constant change and innovation. From Hapag, which initially sailed across the Atlantic with just one sailing ship starting in 1848, it has become a renowned and internationally operating logistics company that serves almost all major ports in the world.”

With its founding in 1847, the company’s main business was the transport of mail and passengers, especially emigrants. Freight initially played a secondary role. Managing Director Albert Ballin (1857-1918) made Hapag the largest shipping line in the world, invented the cruise, and led the emigration business in Hamburg to great prosperity. Although the shipping company lost nearly all its ships during the two world wars, it managed to rise again each time.

The company commemorates the changes over 175 years with various activities throughout the year, including a scientific conference, a celebration for employees in Hamburg, and a congress. “There is every reason for Hapag-Lloyd to celebrate, but also to be grateful,” says Rolf Habben Jansen. “Our gratitude goes to our more than 14,000 employees around the world, our customers, our owners, and everyone who has contributed over the past 175 years to ensure that Hapag-Lloyd has stayed the course and successfully navigated even the most challenging times.”

Image: © Hapag-Lloyd