Big celebration in the port of Hamburg: MSC Germany is ceremoniously christened!

Big celebration in the port of Hamburg: MSC Germany is ceremoniously christened!

On June 14, 2025, the port of Hamburg will be the scene of an impressive festival. On this day, the shipping company MSC celebrates a ship naming ceremony as part of the “MSC Yellow Festival”, which is of great importance for the city and its citizens. The event takes place between the Landungsbrücken and Baumwall and offers a colorful program of entertainment, culinary delights and interesting insights into the world of shipping. Entry is free!

The highlight of the festival is the christening of the LNG container ship “MSC Germany”, which, with an impressive length of 350 meters, is one of the most sustainable shipping solutions in the world. Economics Senator Melanie Leonhard (SPD) is expected to be the godmother and will personally place the christening ribbon on the new gem in the port of Hamburg. The ship's christening takes place in the evening, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.

A festival for everyone

With a program that runs from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the MSC Yellow Festival promises to be a real celebration for Hamburg residents and guests. In addition to the christening of the new ship, the event offers numerous attractions, such as the MSC Experience World with interactive stations and show acts both on land and on the water. The musical entertainment will be provided by Hamburg artist Zoe Wees, who will perform on a floating stage on the Elbe.

Another highlight are the street artists and artists who create the best atmosphere with their performances. There are also food trucks available that offer international specialties and thus ensure the physical well-being of visitors. The event will be moderated by Christian Stübinger from Radio Hamburg, known as Stübi.

Insight into shipping

The MSC Yellow Festival is not only a celebration, but also an opportunity to give citizens an insight into everyday life on board a container ship. The event is intended to bring shipping to life and thus increase awareness of the importance of the port of Hamburg. With around 8.8 million containers handled in 2021, the port demonstrates its central role in international trade. China is the largest trading partner, followed by Russia and the United States.

Although sea traffic has decreased slightly compared to the pre-crisis year of 2019, with an increase of 2.6 percent in container throughput in 2021, Hamburg shows that the city remains an important trade center. The port still has a lot to offer and remains a crucial economic factor for many companies.

The MSC Yellow Festival combines tradition and modernity in a unique way by celebrating the shipping company's long-standing connection with the port of Hamburg and at the same time presenting future-oriented concepts. It is a festival that not only celebrates the successes achieved, but also provides an outlook on the sustainable development of shipping.

For information about the event and further background information, read NDR, Hafen Hamburg and Statistics North.