Maersk Line has signed a new building contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine[ds_preview] Engineering (DSME). The order is for eleven plus six optional second generation Triple-E container vessels with a capacity of 19,630TEU each. The vessels will have a length of approximately 400m, width of 58.6m, and a 16.5m draft. The contract has a value of 1.8 bn. $.
This is the second newbuilding order in Maersk Line’s investment programme, following the seven 3,600TEU feeder vessels announced earlier this year. Over the coming five years, Maersk Line is planning to invest 15 bn. $ in newbuildings, retrofitting, containers and other equipment. Maersk Line will thus be able to maintain the necessary capacity to grow with global demand as well as replace less efficient tonnage. The Danish shipping company has a long and close relationship with DSME. Most recently, DSME built the pioneering Triple-E vessels. The last (out of 20) will be delivered in June 2015. The shipyard and Maersk Line are working on amplifying the features of the Triple-E vessels (efficiency, economy of scale and environmentally improved) in the new vessels.
The new vessels will be the largest in Maersk Line’s fleet and are intended for the Asia–Europe service. They will join Maersk Line’s fleet between April 2017 and May 2018 and will replace smaller, less efficient vessels.
