Emder Hafenförderungsgesellschaft e. V. (EHFG) welcomes the “Future Way” of the Swedish shipping company “Wallenius Marine”, which was christened in the seaport of Emden as part of a ceremony organized entirely from Sweden. “We are delighted and honored that the shipping company had its latest ship christened in our port,” said Reinhard Hegewald from the EHFG Executive Board. The ship, which is based on the Sleipner concept, is an important milestone for sustainable shipping between Europe and North America. The 200-meter-long car carrier is the first of two ships that have been chartered for Volkswagen Group Logistics. The ship has space for around 4,500 vehicles from the VW Group. The cars will be shipped from Emden to North America on the “Future Way”. From there, the freighter will call at Mexico to load VWs and Audis for the European market to Emden. “We will probably see the ship in Emden every four to six weeks,” says Manfred de Vries, Managing Director of Autoport Emden GmbH.

The “Future Way” is the result of close cooperation between Wallenius Marine, the Danish shipbuilding company KNUD E. HANSEN and the Volkswagen Group. The ship's aerodynamic design reduces fuel consumption and emissions and makes it possible to cross the Atlantic without ballast water. This reduces the risk of the spread of invasive species in the oceans. On board there would be a fitness room, leisure facilities and comfortable accommodation for the crew - in line with Wallenius' idea of a “home away from home”.   

Around 80 participants - mainly from Sweden - took part in the ceremony in Emden's outer harbor at the invitation of the shipping company. The godmother was the German-born artist Milana Schoeller, who now lives and works in Sweden.