Responsibility is our tradition: In 1994 Hapag-Lloyd was the first shipping company who had certified all its worldwide activities according to ISO quality standards. By 1996 binding environmental guidelines were formulated.  In 2003 a certification according to environmental standards was added to the already existing ISO quality standard. Both systems were combined to our integrated Quality and Environmental Management System (ISO 9001 + ISO 14001) and since then have continuously been updated. Our ISO certificate includes all activities of Hapag-Lloyd's worldwide organisation. This certification has successfully been renewed by Germanischer Lloyd; the certificate is valid until June 21st, 2012.

Hapag-Lloyd calculates carbon emissions for all owned container vessels and vessels operated under long-term charter by using the methodology developed by the Clean Cargo Working Group. The CO₂ as well as SOx emission data have been verified by Germanischer Lloyd. For further information please read the pdf-document below.

In 2007 we were the first container shipping line worldwide to be certified with the newly established standard “GL Excellence - 5 Stars”. This standard encompasses multiple criteria and calls for the implementation of health and safety measures, certification in line with ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISM Code (International Safety Management) and ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security) for the prevention of maritime danger. New on the one hand is that the essential requirements have been consolidated, and on the other hand include requirements that go far above and beyond these international standards and regulations.

Lately, our “GL Excellence - 5 Stars” certificate has successfully been renewed by Germanischer Lloyd; the certificate is valid until December 20th, 2013.

Hapag-Lloyd’s newbuilding „Vienna Express“ (8749 TEU) has been awarded - as the first ship in the world to receive it – with the new EEDI certificate (Energy Efficiency Design Index) by Germanischer Lloyd.

The CO2 emissions are almost a quarter (23%) below the worldwide average for this class of ship (based on Lloyd’s database). Hapag-Lloyd is the first shipping company with the new certification before it becomes mandatory. The IMO, who developed the new CO2-index, will soon make it compulsory for all merchant ship newbuildings. It will make the energy efficiency of ships easier to benchmark for comparison.

Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)

Since 1997 all our new ships receive an Environmental Passports for highest environmental standards. It will be issued for measures carried out voluntarily which help to improve maritime environmental protection.