Navigating home: Captain Henning Dost's story aboard Hapag-Lloyd's new Hamburg Express
With roots in Hamburg and eyes on the horizon, Captain Dost leads a global crew on the inaugural journey of the Hamburg Express
Captain Henning Dost, a proud resident of Hamburg, feels right at home aboard the new "Hamburg Express." Reflecting on the close connection between Hamburg-based Hapag-Lloyd and its historical counterpart, North German Lloyd of Bremen, he says, “Hamburg is our home port and, in my eyes, the most beautiful city in the world. I love that so many colleagues from Hamburg are part of our crew!” After months of intensive work, Dost and his team eagerly await the ship’s christening, now only days away.
In June, Dost traveled to South Korea to oversee the ship’s construction, working closely with the Hapag-Lloyd project team and engineers to inspect every detail—from welding seams and paintwork to machinery installations. “We checked everything from keel to mast, documenting our findings each evening,” he explains. In August, the vessel underwent a crucial seven-day test voyage from South Korea to Japan, including an emergency stop maneuver at full speed. "It takes almost 15 minutes to bring the ship to a complete halt, and while it doesn’t feel dramatic on the bridge, down in the engine room, the forces are intense,” Dost describes. "Ideally, this maneuver is only done once in a ship’s life." Thankfully, the "Hamburg Express" passed all tests with flying colors.
As the crew began arriving at the shipyard, Dost appreciated watching a diverse team come together. His own journey, marked by ambition, began after high school, leading him to train as a nautical officer’s assistant and earn a degree in nautical science. By 24, he was sailing as an officer, advancing to chief mate with Hapag-Lloyd by 2017, while also completing a master’s degree focused on emergency scenarios for liquefied gas incidents. His experience with dual-fuel technology, especially during the LNG conversion of the "Sajir," makes him an asset to the "Hamburg Express."
Hapag-Lloyd took delivery of the vessel in Okpo on August 27, 2024, but a farewell dinner was cut short by Tropical Cyclone Shanshan. “We had to make a quick decision to avoid delays,” Dost recounts. “Once registered, we set sail, navigating carefully to steer clear of the storm.” Their journey continued to Ningbo for the first container loading and then along the Chinese coast, skillfully dodging another typhoon, Yagi.
Dost beams with pride for his diverse crew, highlighting their camaraderie and motivation. “From Polish electricians to German officers and Filipino sailors, we work as a cohesive unit,” he emphasizes. As they settle into their new ship, the team is planning activities like table tennis tournaments and barbecues.
The "Hamburg Express" successfully rounded the Cape of Good Hope, encountering challenging weather but prioritizing safety at all times. “The southern tip of Africa is not nicknamed the ‘Cape of Storms’ for nothing,” Dost explains, noting the powerful low-pressure systems of the southern hemisphere. “One lesson from this journey is clear: even a 400-meter ship cannot bargain with the sea. Safety of the crew, ship, and cargo is always our top priority.”
With the maiden voyage into Hamburg complete, Dost now looks forward to the christening on November 4, 2024. “It’s a true honor to command this ship on its inaugural journey and to bring it home,” he concludes with excitement.
Here you can see our 399 meters long and 61 meters wide Hamburg Express on a summer night in Vietnam on its way to Hamburg, Germany for its christening.
© Hapag-Lloyd AG