On Friday, September 16, 2011, Hamburg Süd christened the container ship Santa Catarina in Itapoá (Brazil) as part of a customer event. Sponsor of the Santa Catarina was Elisabeth Meves, wife of the former Chairman of the Executive Board of Hamburg Süd, Dr Klaus Meves. The “Santa Catarina” takes her name from the Brazilian Federal State in which the ship christening was held. With this choice of name the Hamburg Süd Group is underlining its close attachment to this region, which ranks among the shipping group’s most important export markets on South America’s east coast. Since its formation in 1871, Hamburg Süd has seen in Brazil a key partner for its business. The first ships at the time called at the ports in Rio and Santos.