HMM, Ultra-Large Container Ship 'Hanbada'... Early Deployment for Export Support on 23rd

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] HMM announced that it held the naming ceremony for its 16,000 TEU-class ultra-large container ship No. 5, ‘HMM Hanbada,’ on the 13th. Hanbada is scheduled to make its maiden call at Busan Port on the 23rd and will be actively deployed on the Europe route.

‘HMM Hanbada’ is a vessel built as part of the government’s five-year maritime reconstruction plan. It is the fifth container ship delivered among the eight 16,000 TEU-class vessels contracted with Hyundai Heavy Industries in September 2018.

The naming ceremony held at Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard was attended by key figures including Yoon Jong-won, President of Industrial Bank of Korea, Jung Tae-soon, Chairman of the Korea Shipping Association, Bae Jae-hoon, President of HMM, and Han Young-seok, President of Hyundai Heavy Industries. The event was conducted with minimal key personnel in attendance in consideration of COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

At the event, Mrs. Park Soo-hyang, wife of President Yoon Jong-won, attended and performed the role of the godmother, who traditionally cuts the rope to launch the ship into the sea.

In his congratulatory speech, President Yoon stated, “The deployment of ultra-large container ships will help resolve logistics difficulties faced by our export companies and contribute to advancing Korea as a strong maritime nation.”

Previously, while serving as the Chief Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Blue House in 2018, President Yoon played a pivotal role as a control tower in coordinating government ministries and national financial institutions amid uncertain shipping market conditions, significantly contributing to HMM’s order of 20 ultra-large vessels.

‘HMM Hanbada’ will be deployed on the North Europe route, operating jointly with member companies of THE Alliance, a shipping alliance.

HMM had planned to sequentially take delivery of eight 16,000 TEU-class ultra-large vessels starting from mid-April. However, to alleviate the difficulties of export companies caused by a shortage of shipping capacity, the first ship ‘HMM Nuri’ and the second ship ‘HMM Gaon’ were deployed early on the Europe route in March. Subsequently, the third ship ‘HMM Garam’ and the fourth ship ‘HMM Mir’ have also been deployed on the Europe route.

The company explained that by deploying all eight 16,000 TEU-class vessels on the Europe route by next month, it will complete securing a total of 20 ultra-large vessels, including twelve 24,000 TEU-class world’s largest container ships built as part of the government’s 2018 five-year maritime reconstruction plan and acquired last year.

Bae Jae-hoon, President of HMM, said, “Based on these vessels, we will do our best to enter the global top class and strengthen the logistics competitiveness of Korea’s export and import companies.”