The shipping company Hamburger Lloyd says goodbye to the market. Hapag-Lloyd takes over the operational business as well as the employees and seafarers.
The company was launched in 2007 – with Hamburg-based Warburg Bank and the issuing house Hansa Hamburg as shareholders and financiers of the ships. But three years ago, the fleet, which once consisted of container ships, bulkers and chemical tankers, began to be sold off.
Hamburger Lloyd with 29 ships under management at last count
30 ships have changed hands in the meantime. Most recently, the shipping company Hamburger Lloyd (RHL) was active on the market as a ship manager and currently manages a total of 29 ships for Hapag-Lloyd.
The liner shipping company based in Ballindamm is now also taking over RHL’s operational business. The last 35 employees will also be taken over, if they so wish. CEO Hauke Pane, who has been in charge since the company was founded, will be leaving the company at the turn of the year.
In view of the many operational and regulatory challenges, the history of the former universal shipping company RHL is now coming to an end with its sale. RHL’s ship management will be transferred to Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet management. The liner shipping company will also take over – unchanged – the crewing contracts on the 29 ships.
However, the shipping company Hamburger Lloyd and the corporate identity are to remain as brands in order to be able to revive them at a later date.
The RHL Group was created through the operational merger of Wappen Reederei, founded in 2002, with Reederei Hamburger Lloyd (RHL), founded in 2007. RHL Hamburger Lloyd Crewmanagement was established at the end of 2009. In 2012, all shares in Wappen Reederei were acquired by Hamburger Lloyd.
