Hamburg Sud expands Europe - South America trade

The Rio Blanco was christened at Burchardkai in the Port of Hamburg. This is the fourth new vessel in a series totalling six container ships of identical design for Hamburg Sud. All of them have a slot capacity of 5,900 TEU, making them the largest vessels in the shipping group fleet.

The naming ceremony for the Rio Blanco was performed by Nina-Maria Oetker, wife of Dr. h.c. August Oetker, General Partner of Dr. August Oetker KG and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Hamburg Sud.

After its christening it will continue to operate in the shipping group? Europe-South America East Coast service, where it has been deployed since June 2009. By the end of the year the remaining two new vessels Rio Bravo and Rio Madeira are also to be phased into this service. They will replace the Monte ships (5,500 TEU) currently employed there, which will then operate in Hamburg Sud? Asia - South Africa/South America East Coast service.

The Rio Blanco is named after a river in the region of Valparaiso in central Chile.<Korea Shipping Gazette>