Maersk Line has exercised its option with Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. to build a second batch of ten Triple-E ships, following its previous order for ten vessels in February this year.

Maersk orders another batch of 18,000 teu vessels

Maersk Line expects demand on the Asia to Europe trade to increase 5-8% per year during 2011-2015. By introducing the vessels from 2013, Maersk Line will be able to meet the increasing demand as well as maintain its market share. The first ten vessels will be delivered 2013 and 2014; the second ten vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2014 and 2015.

Called the ‘Triple-E’ class because of their economy of scale, energy efficiency and environmentally improved, the ships are 400 m long, 59 m wide and 73 m high. The largest vessels of any type afloat today with 18,000 teu capacity, they carry 16% (2,500 teu) more than today’s largest container vessel, Emma Maersk.

The Triple-E’s will produce 20% less CO2 per container moved compared to Emma Maersk and 50% less than the industry average on the Asia-Europe trade lane. In addition, they will consume approximately 35% percent less fuel per container than the 13,100 teu vessels being delivered to other container shipping lines in the next few years, also for Asia-Europe service.

The deadline for exercising the last option for an additional 10 vessels is end of December 2011. At this time Maersk Line does not intend to exercise the option. However, it will reserve its right to hold off on any final decision until the deadline.