Christening of the Wilhelmshaven Express: New milestone for the port!

Christening of the Wilhelmshaven Express: New milestone for the port!

On October 28, 2025 the time had finally come: the impressive “Wilhelmshaven Express”, a huge container ship, was ceremoniously christened at the Jade-Weser-Port in Wilhelmshaven. With a length of around 400 meters and the ability to accommodate 23,660 standard containers, it belongs to the renowned Hamburg class, manufactured by the Hapag-Lloyd shipping company in South Korea. Through regular use as part of the “Gemini Cooperation” between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, the “Wilhelmshaven Express” serves important trade routes between Asia and Europe, giving the port an even more central role in global container traffic. The Jade-Weser-Port has also become more important as a reliable transshipment point for this cooperation, which is underlined by the growing number of calls.

Since Hapag-Lloyd became involved in the container terminal in Wilhelmshaven in 2022, the port has recorded a notable increase in throughput. While it was a challenge in the past, the Jade Weser Port recently broke the barrier of one million standard containers (TEU) handled. Ambitious goals have been set for 2025 and are targeting a throughput of between 1.3 and 1.5 million TEU. Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Olaf Lies sees the christening of the “Wilhelmshaven Express” as a real breakthrough for the port, which also offers an annual capacity of 3.8 to 4.3 million standard containers.

The Gemini Collaboration

The “Gemini cooperation” between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, which was officially launched on February 1st, aims to strengthen the Jade Weser Port and increase its competitiveness. The two shipping companies plan to handle their global traffic via seven central transshipment hubs, including Wilhelmshaven. These hubs consist of a total of twelve container ports, including Bremerhaven and Rotterdam. Those involved hope that this will result in a noticeable increase in throughput at the JWP, especially since the cooperation has 57 services, including 28 mainliner services. Around 340 container ships will be used as part of the “Gemini network”, which should further revitalize the port in the coming years.

Due to the uncertain situation in the Red Sea, the ships currently have to be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope. The partners are closely monitoring the situation and plan to return as soon as circumstances permit. In the meantime, the Jade Weser Port will remain a safe and reliable port for shipping companies.

The developments at Jade Weser Port are exciting news for everyone who operates in or wants to invest in the region. Hapag-Lloyd's plans to increase hourly container throughput suggests that investments and negotiations are underway with other container shipping companies for new lines to this promising port. A good hand in cooperation can lead to further increases in capacity and establish the port as one of the most important transshipment points in northern Germany.

For more information about the christening of the “Wilhelmshaven Express” and developments in the port, see the article by buten and within ready, while the plans for “Gemini cooperation” from nwzonline.de be addressed in detail.