Maersk orders 10 ‘Triple-E’ vessels

Maersk Line, the world’s largest container shipping line, has ordered 10 ‘Triple-E’ class ships at $190 million each.

The vessel, among the most efficient on the maritime circuit, surpasses the current industry records for fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions per container moved held by the Emma Maersk class vessels.

Maersk, which may place an additional 20-vessels order, is expected to take delivery of the ships between 2013 and 2015.

These ships will entirely change the shipping industry’s understanding of size and efficiency. Named after the three main purposes behind their creation (economy of scale, energy-efficient and environmentally improved) the container vessels are 400 metres long, 59 metres wide and 73 metres high, making them the largest of any type on the water today.

Its 18,000 TEU capacity is 16 per cent more than today’s largest container vessel, Emma Maersk.

The Triple-E will produce 20 per cent less CO₂ per container moved compared to Emma Maersk, and 50 per cent less than the industry average on the Asia-Europe trade lane.

Maersk is represented in Malta by Thomas Smith Group.