German liner shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has sold three of its older containerships which were owned by United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) prior to the merger of the duo in May this year.
The Deira, the Najran and the Sakaka will be transferred to shipyards in China and Turkey, which are certified for safe and environmentally sound recycling.
The ships have a capacity of 4,101 TEU each and were delivered to UASC from Japanese shipyards in 1997 and 1998.
Hapag-Loyd said the ships were being taken from the market as they no longer fit with the company’s portfolio, which is now the fifth-largest liner shipping company in the world following the merger with UASC.
“As one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies, we are aware of our ecological and social responsibilities,” said Anthony Firmin, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Hapag-Lloyd .
The step means that Hapag-Lloyd is continuing to implement the internal Ship Recycling Policy it adopted in May 2014, whereby ships which are no longer needed must be recycled in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, the company added.
In 2015, the German liner sold 16 of its fleet’s older units.
Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet comprises 219 containerships with a total transport capacity of 1.6 million TEU.