18,000teu containerships will be the largest ever built.
The deal provides an option for 20 more vessels which, if exercised, could be worth $5.4 billion and would represent the largest single contract in the history of shipping.
CEO of Maersk Line Eivind Kolding said the vessels would operate on the Asia-Europe trade and would “meet capacity requirements going forward in the most cost efficient manner”.
He added that it was likely that Maersk would order 10 more of the ships although he was less sure about the other 10.
He estimated that industry volumes would grow by between 5% and 8% per year in the future, which would be more than enough to ensure the ships sail full.
Smaller ships that operate on Asia-Europe could be cascaded to other trade lanes if the world was hit by another recession and volumes declined.
Kolding said the ships would call at around four ports in Asia and another three in Europe – Rotterdam, Felixstowe and Bremerhaven.
He said the larger ships would not mean an increase in transhipment, as there would still be plenty of other smaller vessels that could provide direct services to ports all over Europe.
The ships were ordered from South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and are scheduled for delivery between 2013 and 2015 at the cost of $190 million each.
If Maersk decides to exercise its option for an additional 20 vessels the deal would be worth $5.4 billion, the largest single contract in the history of shipbuilding.
The Triple-E vessels, as they have been named, will produce 20% less CO2 per container moved compared to Maersk’s current largest vessel the Emma Maersk, and 50% less than the industry average on the Asia-Europe trade lane.
This is largely due to increased economies of scale; the vessels’ smaller engine – meaning they have a lower top speed than many vessels – their heat recovery system that captures and reuses energy from the engines, exhaust gas for extra propulsion; their two propellers; and their specially optimised hull.
Kolding said the new vessels, which measure 400 metres in length and 59 metres wide, would also reduce the cost of transport by around 20% to 30% per container.
While the vessels are 16% larger than the Emma Maersk in terms of capacity, they are only four metres longer and three metres wider.
They can carry 23 rows of containers across, compared the Emma Maersk’s 22 containers across.
The extra carrying capacity is due to the vessels’ unique u shaped hull, compared to the current v shape operated by many ships today. They will operate at a speed of around 19 knots.
Video: Maersk Triple – E Ship
Damian Brett & Katerina Kerr | Mon, 21 Feb 2011