Maersk Line, the world’s biggest container shipping line, represented in Malta by Thomas Smith Group, has ordered 10 of the world’s largest and most efficient ships, with an option for an additional 20 more. Each ship will cost $190 million and delivery is scheduled for between 2013 and 2015.

These ships will entirely change the shipping industry’s understanding of size and efficiency. Called the ‘Triple-E’ class for the three main purposes behind their creation – economy of scale, energy efficiency and environmentally improved – these new container ships do not just set a new benchmark for size, they will surpass the current industry records for fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions per container moved held by the Emma Maersk class vessels.

Four-hundred metres long, 59 metres wide and 73 metres high, the Triple-E is the largest vessel of any type on the water today. Its 18,000 TEU (twenty-foot container) capacity is 16 per cent greater (2,500 containers) than today’s largest container vessel, the Emma Maersk. The Triple-E will produce 20 per cent less CO2 per container moved compared to Emma Maersk, and 50 per cent less than the industry average on the Asia-Europe trade route. In addition, it will consume approximately 35 per cent less fuel per container than the 13,100 TEU vessels being delivered to other container shipping lines in the next few years, also for the Asia-Europe service.

This announcement is being acclaimed across the shipping industry as it sets new standards in fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Here in Malta, Maersk Line’s agents Thomas Smith Group also expressed their satisfaction. “We are very excited with this news as it galvanises Maersk’s long-term environmental commitment and will enable the company to maintain its leading position in worldwide shipping for the foreseeable future”, said managing director Joe Gerada.