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History 1970 - 2007
1971
Hapag-Lloyd teams up with NYK, MOL, OCL and Ben Lines to found the Trio consortium, which starts a full container service between Europe and East Asia with a joint schedule and ship management.
1972
Hapag-Lloyd Airline founded. In the following year it acquires its first Boeing 727-100 aircraft and can start charter services.
1974
On January 1st Hapag-Lloyd and Rickmers Line conclude a long-term cooperation agreement. With its majority interest of 70 percent in Rickmers, Hapag-Lloyd is able to re-enter China trade.
1980
Hapag-Lloyd acquires a majority interest in Pracht Freight Forwarding, based in Haiger, and purchases the remaining shares six years later.
1981
Hapag-Lloyd puts into service the world’s largest containership, the “Frankfurt Express”, capable of carrying 3,430 TEU.
1982
Incorrect market appraisals and an economic downturn led to withdrawal from loss-making activities and reorganization and streamlining of the entire group.
MV "Europa" enters service.
To reduce dependence on shipping, since the mid-1970s the executive board had pursued a ploicy of diversification. Bulk and tanker shipping (Kosmos Bulkschiffahrt), forwarding (with a stake in Pracht) and tourism were intended to make the group less subject to economic ups and downs. Yet mistaken assumptions about the market and economic reverses made radical measures essential. A concentration of activities on liner shipping and tourism followed, loss-making operations were sold - and Hapag-Lloyd Group was then reorganized and streamlined. In 1983 and 1984 shareholders contributed towards putting the group on a firm footing again by assenting to a simultaneous reduction and increase in its share capital.
1984
Resumption of Trans Pacific service between North America and East Asia.
1987
Hapag-Lloyd Group is given a new image with a uniform flag and funnel colours.
Hapag-Lloyd acquires the remaining shares in Rickmers Line, which thus becomes a 100% subsidiary.
1991
First vessel in a series of eight modern 4,800 TEU containerships enters service.
1993
The group was split into divisions and at the same time liner shipping was decentralized. The central freight departments were disbanded and responsibility for results delegated to the regions Europe, America and Asia/Australia.
Hapag-Lloyd founds Grand Alliance with Asian and European partners.
1995
Hapag-Lloyd AG 25 years old.
Liner shipping forms with other prestigious shipping lines the "Grand Alliance", which starts in 1996. Apart from Hapag-Lloyd, members of this largest consortium in international liner shipping are today NYK, P&O Nedlloyd, MISC and OOCL.
1997
Liner shipping was made an independent entity under the newly formed Hapag-Lloyd Container Linie GmbH.
Hapag-Lloyd Group celebrates its 150th anniversary.
Hapag-Lloyd Foundation is established.
Separation in legal and organizational terms was effected from Hapag-Lloyd Travel Agency and Hapag-Lloyd Business Travel.
Hapag-Lloyd acquired Hanseatic Tours, pooling its cruise activities under Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Hapag-Lloyd Group celebrated its 150th anniversary. On this occasion the main administration building in Hamburg was named "Ballin House".
On June 29th the "Columbus" started her maiden voyage. Thanks to her special design, she is the only cruise ship that coming from the Atlantic is able to navigate the locks system and or into Great Lakes of North America passing through the St. Lawrence seaway.
1998
In August Hapag-Lloyd AG acquires a majority shareholding of 50.1 percent in Touristik Union International (TUI), the largest German tour operator.
Preussag AG acquires controlling stake in Hapag-Lloyd retroactively from October 1st 1997.
1999
Restructuring of Hapag-Lloyd Group to include Hapag-Lloyd Container Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Pracht Freight Forwarding, VTG-Lehnkering and Algeco.
Delivery and naming of the "Europa", the new flagship of the Hapag-Lloyd fleet.
Takeover of the rail logistics part of IVG and increase of shares of the Transwaggon group to 54% by VTG Lehnkering.
2000
Hapag-Lloyd achieves the best result in its 153-year history. Group return on turnover at 7 percent represents a top figure for the transport and logistics industry.
2001
The first of a series of four new container vessels with a capacity of 7.500 TEU comes into service. The ship is called "Hamburg Express".
Hapag-Lloyd AG takes 25,1% shares in the new Hamburg Container Terminal Altenwerder. The new quay is named "Ballinkai".
Algeco increases its stock of container modules by 15% to more than 100.000.
VTG-Lehnkering restructures its Portfolio by selling its maritime services.
2002
The EU Commission approves the acquisition of the European rail logistics activities of the Australian Brambles Group by Hapag-Lloyd and VTG-Lehnkering.
In June, the annual general meeting of Hapag-Lloyd AG approves the acquisition of the minority shareholders' remaining 11,000 shares by Preussag (now TUI) AG, which thus become sole shareholder.
At the end of October, the annual general meeting of VTG-Lehnkering AG approves the acquisition of the remaining free shares by Hapag-Lloyd.
2003
In 2002, Hapag-Lloyd Group achieved sales of € 3.8 billion and an operating profit of € 202m – the third highest in company history – despite an adverse overall economic environment.
Hapag-Lloyd's fleet is growing: on April 25th, the "Berlin Express", the last newbuilding in a series of four 7,500 TEU ships, is being named at Container Terminal Altenwerder in Hamburg. Hapag-Lloyd is ordering three more 8,000 TEU vessels for delivery between 2005 and 2006.
Hapag-Lloyd has obtained ISO 9001 (quality) and 14001 (environment) certification from Germanischer Lloyd. It is one of the first carriers to have all its activities along the global transport chain – from sender to recipient – covered in the audit.
Ballin House, headquarters of Hapag-Lloyd, is 100 years old this year.
2004
In January, the TUI supervisory board decides to have Hapag-Lloyd listed on the stock exchange. However, the IPO is called off in September because the issue value aimed at with a stock exchange quotation does not reflect the company's value.
Hapag-Lloyd achieves a record operating profit of €343m in 2003.
The ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) enters into force. Hapag-Lloyd complies with this even before it becomes binding
2005
In 2004, Hapag-Lloyd Group achieved sales of €2.7 billion (previous year: €2.4 billion) and a profit (EBT) of €278m (€262m). Global container shipping generates 95% of group sales and cruises the remaining share.
Hapag-Lloyd Group completed its focusing on the shipping sector in 2004 after shedding its other logistics activities, today's VTG AG, Pracht GmbH and Algeco S.A.
Hapag-Lloyd Container Line puts a high priority on training, offering 61 training places in 2005, 70% more than in the previous year.
In October 2005, Hapag-Lloyd’s parent company, TUI, acquired 89.1% of the British-Canadian line CP Ships, making Hapag-Lloyd the world’s fifth largest container carrier.
Hapag-Lloyd has supported the tsunami victims in South-East Asia with donations.
2006
The organisational consolidation of Hapag-Lloyd AG and Hapag-Lloyd Container Linie GmbH (HLCL) already realised in 2005 is now also being effected in formal legal terms in the context of the integration of CP Ships. Hapag-Lloyd AG and Hapag-Lloyd Container Line form a single unit and will operate in future under Hapag-Lloyd AG.
2007
In 2007, Hapag-Lloyd boosts its container transport volume by 9% to close on 5.5m TEU, achieving sales of over €6.2 billion.
On February 20th, Hapag-Lloyd celebrates the 150th anniversary of the founding of North German Lloyd with a festive event in Bremen town hall.
In May, Hapag-Lloyd orders eight more newbuildings each with 8,750 TEU capacity for delivery from the end of 2009 to mid-2010.
In December, Hapag-Lloyd is the first liner company worldwide to be given the “GL Excellence - 5 Stars” certificate by Germanischer Lloyd. This is awarded for particularly high standards of safety and security, quality, labour protection and environmental protection.