Maersk Triple-E: The 18,000 TEU Benchmark
Maersk Line has signed a contract for ten of the world’s largest, most efficient container vessels with an option to buy another twenty. The vessels will have a capacity of 18,000 TEU and will be delivered from Korea’s DSME shipyard from 2013 to 2015. The new, giant container vessels will be known as Triple-E, for their founding principles are economy of scale, energy efficiency and environmentally improved.
At 400 m long, 59 m wide and 73 m tall, the Triple-E will be the largest vessel of any type known to be in operation. Its 18,000 twenty-foot container capacity is a massive 16 % larger (2,500 TEU) than Emma Mærsk. At a cost of USD 190 million per vessel – and therefore a contract value of USD 5.7 billion should the option for a further 20 be exercised – Maersk Line is buying the ships to position itself to profit from the 5-8% growth in trade from Asia to Europe that the company expects, and to maintain its industry leading market share in the trade.
New Benchmark
The new vessels will not just set a new benchmark for size; in addition, they will ensure Maersk Line reaches its goals at the lowest possible cost, while producing the lowest possible amount of carbon dioxide emissions – an astonishing 50% less carbon dioxide per container moved than the industry average on the Asia-Europe trade. “One of the biggest challenges we face in the world today is how to meet the growing needs of a growing population and while minimising the impact that is going to have on our planet”, said Maersk Line CEO Eivind Kolding. “International trade will continue to play a key role in the development of the global economy; but, for the health of the planet, we must continue to reduce our carbin dioxide emissions. It is not only a top priority for us, but also for our customers, who depend on us in their supply chain, and also for a growing number of consumers who base their purchasing decisions on this type of information.”