How the Container Transformed Global Trade
Before the rise of containerization, transporting goods across the world was a slow and often costly process. Cargo had to be loaded and unloaded item by item, which made it vulnerable to damage, delays, and theft.
That began to change in the 1950s, when American entrepreneur Malcolm McLean introduced the concept of the standardized shipping container - a practical solution that would go on to reshape international trade.
Hapag-Lloyd has been part of this transformation from the very beginning. In 1968, the company launched its own container operations and quickly became a pioneer of the new system. Just two years later, Hapag-Lloyd vessels like the "Weser Express" and "Elbe Express" were charting new territory - combining increased speed with space for over 1,000 containers and signaling a new era in maritime logistics.
By the 1990s, container shipping had reached the next level of efficiency. Large vessels like the "Hannover Express" and "Düsseldorf Express" were moving thousands of containers with the help of synchronized gantry cranes, dramatically reducing turnaround times in port. Ever since, Hapag-Lloyd has remained at the forefront of the industry, continuously evolving alongside the technologies that shape maritime trade.
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