Maersk orders ten colossal vessels
THEY will be the biggest container ships ever. And thanks to the scrappers, they will be the biggest vessels of any kind afloat when the first of them is launched in 2013. Maersk Line, a Danish shipper, announced on February 21st that it had ordered ten colossal vessels for $1.9 billion from South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding, with an option to order 20 more. This new Danish armada will alter the economics of container shipping.
Maersk’s new “Triple-E” ships (see artist’s impression above) will carry 18,000 boxes each, 2,500 more than the biggest container ship currently in service, which is also operated by Maersk. The new vessels will use 50% less fuel per container than the present average. With oil sailing past $100 a barrel, that will be good news both for the environment and for Maersk’s profits. …
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