Maersk Line orders 11 ‘second generation’ EEE containerships

Order from DSME includes an option to add six more ultra-large container vessels.    Maersk Line on Tuseday signed a $1.8 billion contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for 11 second generation Triple-E container vessels with a capacity of 19,630 TEUs each. The order includes an option for six additional vessels.
   The vessels will have a length of approximately 400 meters (m), width of 58.6m, and a 16.5m draft. They will be the largest in Maersk Line’s fleet and are intended for the Asia-Europe trade lane. The vessels will replace smaller, less efficient vessels currently operating in the trade.
   They are even larger than the first 20 Triple-E containerships which BlueWater Reporting says have a capacity of 18,270 TEUs. DSME also built the pioneering Triple-E vessels, with the last of those 20 ships due to be delivered this month.
   The order was signed by Sung-Leep Jung, president and chief executive of DSME, and Søren Skou, CEO of Maersk Line, at a ceremony at Maersk Line’s headquarters in Copenhagen.
   The announcement follows an order placed earlier this year by Maersk for seven 3,600-TEU feeder vessels.
   Over the coming five years, Maersk Line is planning to invest $15 billion in new ships, retrofitted vessels, containers and other equipment. Maersk Line said this will give it the necessary capacity to grow with global demand as well as replace less efficient tonnage.
   “I am very happy with this order. These vessels will help us stay competitive in the Asia–Europe trade and will be key in our strategy to grow with the market. It is the second order this year and we expect to order more vessels, which we can add to our fleet from 2017 and onwards,” said Søren Toft, chief operating officer at Maersk Line.
   The 11 new vessels will join Maersk Line’s fleet between April 2017 and May 2018. They will sail under Danish flag.