The Hanwha Ocean Shipyard is so large that workers use bicycles to get around.
It is fall 2024. Each morning, hundreds of workers cycle across the vast grounds of the Hanwha Ocean shipyard, located in the Okpo neighborhood of Geoje Island in South Korea. The air is brisk, the wind carries a sharp smell of salt and steel, and the clang of metal echoes across the yard. They ride past towering stacks of raw steel plates, rows of scaffolding reaching skyward, and open production halls, where welding sparks crackle and the air is filled with the rhythmic thrum of machinery. Cranes sweep overhead the concrete expanse.
As they near the dock, the air grows cooler and saltier. The scent of oil mixes with that of the sea. Beneath another towering yellow gantry crane, the future “Wilhelmshaven Express” looms into view. Its dark hull rises 30 meters high like a cliff face, while its red bow cuts cleanly through the thick morning mist. One by one, the workers dismount. Kickstands click into place, pedals creak, and tires crunch softly on the gravel as bikes are leaned in neat rows along the pier. They have arrived – and are ready to begin another workday.
The “Wilhelmshaven Express” is one of twelve vessels in the Hamburg Express Class being built at the Hanwha Ocean shipyard. Each ship measures nearly 400 meters in length, features dual-fuel propulsion, and is designed to carry almost 24,000 TEU – making this the most ambitious newbuilding program in the company’s history.
Watch how the teams brought the Hamburg Express Class to life:
Oskar Nowicki Director Newbuilding Engineering at Fleet Innovation & Technology, and Site Manager for the newbuilding project at the Hanwha Ocean shipyard in Okpo, South Korea
Pushing the limits together
Just a few meters away, in a modest site office at the edge of the yard, Oskar Nowicki is starting his workday. “It never stops being impressive,” he says, glancing toward the towering vessel. As site manager, he represents Hapag-Lloyd’s interests at the shipyard and oversees every step of the construction process. From the first steel cutting for the “Berlin Express” to the final handover of the “Wilhelmshaven Express”, the building, outfitting and testing of multiple ships has been taking place in parallel over a span of more than four years – a massive effort that had been pushing every system and person to their limits.
“We were the bridge between the shipyard and our Hamburg headquarters And more than that – we were a family.”
– Oskar Nowicki, Site Manager
Oskar’s 14-person team includes specialists from every subfield of shipbuilding, including Jinwoo Lee (lead hull), Dusung Park (lead paint), Junggi Hurr (lead machinery), Geunhyo Kim (part of the electrical team), and Nayoung Choo (project admin), to name just a few.
“I’ll never forget when the ship’s machinery – cold and silent – came to life for the first time.”
– Junggi Hurr, Lead Machinery
The team’s tasks include representing the owner, overseeing construction and resolving issues – preferably before they become problems. Most days start the same way – with a meeting at 8:30 a.m. to review progress across multiple vessels. From dry dock to gas trial, from outfitting to handover, the team has to stay on top of every phase of every ship.
Their days are shaped by precision, collaboration and the quiet routines that built trust over time – including countless cups of coffee. From coordinating construction to resolving technical issues across multiple vessels, they have stayed close to the action and even closer to each other. Over four years, this group has become more than just colleagues. They have been forged into one crew.
From the first steel cut to the keel laying and the vessel’s launch – key milestones in the shipbuilding process were marked with small traditions.
From the first steel cut to the keel laying and the vessel’s launch – key milestones in the shipbuilding process were marked with small traditions.
Keeping the LNG system safe and reliable is a true team effort – every step we take ensures it runs flawlessly.
— Oskar Nowicki, Site Manager
Looking back with pride
Fast-forward to June 2025. At this point, Hapag-Lloyd has already taken delivery of all twelve of the ships in the Hamburg Express Class. Now that this mammoth effort has been completed, members of the team finally have a moment to pause, reflect and share their personal experiences and what it meant to be part of something this significant.
A particularly stressful time for the team in Okpo involved an incredibly packed schedule. At the height of the action, two ships were set to be delivered just weeks apart, and the “Damietta Express” was undergoing gas trials to test the vessel’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) systems under real operating conditions. At the same time, the “Singapore Express” had entered sea trials, the final phase to evaluate performance, maneuverability and safety at sea.
On top of all that, two more ships still under construction were having their gigantic LNG tanks installed – a phase in which even the smallest mistake can have serious consequences. In fact, even the welders had to undergo specialized training, as the steel used for these tanks is engineered to withstand the ultra-low temperatures at which LNG must be stored.
For over four years, this was Oskar’s view of the Hanwha Ocean shipyard (left). A time that fostered a strong spirit of commitment and unity with his colleagues and partners from the site office in Okpo, South Korea.
With outstanding engineering expertise, resilience, and adaptability, Oskar’s site office team brought twelve giants to life.
For over four years, this was Oskar’s view of the Hanwha Ocean shipyard (left). A time that fostered a strong spirit of commitment and unity with his colleagues and partners from the site office in Okpo, South Korea.
With outstanding engineering expertise, resilience, and adaptability, Oskar’s site office team brought twelve giants to life.
Connected by purpose
What held the team together under pressure wasn’t just a sense of responsibility for the job or the project. It was a shared passion for the mission, the understanding that this was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, and a deep sense of trust and belonging.
There’s one moment Nowicki will never forget: an auxiliary engine test on the “Genova Express” at 3 o’clock in the morning. These tests are used to verify that the ship’s secondary engines – which supply power for essential onboard systems, such as electricity, pumps and navigation – are fully operational and safe.
Nowicki stood shoulder to shoulder with partners from the classification society DNV, the engine experts from Daihatsu, the team of Hanwha Ocean Shipyard, and his own colleagues – exhausted but united by a complete focus on their shared goal. For Oskar, this moment summed up what the past months had been all about: teamwork, focus and perseverance.
Each member of the site team forms a line, creating teamwork as they connect one block after another to build a 400-meter ship. I’ll never forget that.
— Jinwoo Lee, Lead Hull
Naounyg Choo, Project Admin at the keel laying in the shipyard
“A newbuilding project is like nurturing a growing fetus. These vessels, though made of steel, are crafted entirely by hand – with no automation, only human care and precision. Watching them set sail to explore the world is a deeply emotional experience.”
No place for micromanaging: The most demanding part was planning multiple vessels at once – each in a different stage, from outfitting to commissioning and trial preparations.
With the completion of the "WIlhelmshaven Express", Oskar Nowicki and his team have set a huge milestone in the history of Hapag-Lloyd.
The final handshake
In the end – and thanks to the commitment of all the dedicated experts involved – a dozen giants have left the Korean shipyard and are now safely crisscrossing the world’s ocean. It all started in a modest site office at the edge of the shipyard, where the members of this team proved that some things – respect, accountability and collaboration – are stronger than steel. The ships are in the care of new teams now – but these crews carry forward the same spirit of teamwork and precision. What began in Okpo lives on across the oceans.
“The final vessel has been successfully delivered. Sincere thanks to everyone at Hapag-Lloyd headquarters, the site team, crew members, shipyard personnel, and class society for your dedication and support throughout the project.”
– Sanghoon Bae, Deputy Manager
Discover more of our Giants of the Sea stories
Redefining Scale
Is bigger really always better? A conversation with Silke Lehmköster, in charge of Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet.
A Class of Its Own
How did the crew experience their first journey on the “Berlin Express”? Go aboard and find out!
Marvels of Engineering
Step aboard one of our new Hamburg Express Class vessels and experience a new standard at sea.
Full Steam Ahead: A New Ship Class Sets Sails
Editorial by Dr. Maximilian Rothkopf, our Chief Operating Officer.
Beyond the Helm
In this series, it’s the people behind the voyage who take the lead – sharing their own glimpses into everyday maritime life.
A Quest for Quality
Join Luise Jacobs and Pia Dabelstein by unveiling the secret of quality and technology at Hapag-Lloyd.
“A Clean Ship is a Happy Ship”
How grooming technology is literally shaving emissions off Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet – keeping it clean and green.
On Art and the Algorithm of Happiness
Following the unique route of Ijeoma Nwoke from Lagos, via Aberdeen to Hapag-Lloyd in Hamburg.
Underway
From rickshaws to regional trains—these stories show how our colleagues around the world make their way to work, one commute at a time.
Your Photos
From portside sunsets to open-sea snapshots: These are the images that caught our colleagues’ eyes. Take a look through their lens.