The agreement covering the takeover of the Kien Hung liner services has been signed with effect from 5 April 2003 between the shipping group Hamburg Süd and Kien Hung Shipping.

Hamburg Süd is taking over a total of seven liner services from Kien Hung:

- Far East / South Africa / South America East Coast
- Far East / South Africa
- South Africa / West Africa / South America East Coast
- Far East / South America West Coast via North America and Mexico
- 3 Intra-Asia services

These liner activities will be operated under the established brand name "Kien Hung" and managed by a proprietary marketing and sales organization.
Hamburg Süd announced their well-known first-class service will thus also be extended to the new range of services.

With the takeover of the Kien Hung liner activities, Hamburg Süd is expanding the network of its liner services in Asia and strengthening its position as a leading North-South carrier.