Maersk Triple E class

Rendition of the Triple E class, showing the forward superstructure and separate funnels towards the rear
Class overview
Builders:	Daewoo Shipbuilding
Operators:	Maersk
Preceded by:	Mærsk E class container ship
Planned:	20 ships ordered
General characteristics
Type:	Container ship
Tonnage:	165,000 metric tons deadweight (DWT)
Length:	400 m (1,300 ft)
Beam:	59 m (194 ft)
Draft:	14.5 m (48 ft)
Propulsion:	Twin MAN engines, 43,000 hp each
Capacity:	18,000 TEU

The Maersk Triple E class is a planned family of large, fuel-efficient container ships, designed as a successor to the Mærsk E-class. In February 2011, Maersk awarded Daewoo Shipbuilding a US$1.9 billion contract to build twenty of the ships.

The name "Triple E" is derived from the class's three design principles: "Economy of scale, Energy efficient and Environmentally improved". These ships are expected to be not only the world's largest ships in service, but also the most efficient containerships per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) of cargo.

The ships will be 400 metres (1,300 ft) long and 59 metres (194 ft) wide. While only 3 metres (9.8 ft) longer and 4 metres (13 ft) wider than E-class ships, the Triple E ships will be able to carry 2,500 more containers. With a draft of 14.5 metres (48 ft), they will be too deep to use any port in the Americas or cross the Panama Canal, but will be able to transit the Suez Canal when sailing between Europe and Asia.

One of the class's main design features is the dual 43,000 horsepower (32,000 kW) ultra-long stroke two-stroke diesel engines, driving two propellers at a design speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph). Slower than its predecessors, this class uses a strategy known as "slow-steaming", which is expected to lower fuel consumption by 37% and carbon dioxide emissions per container by 50%. The Triple E design helped Maersk win a "Sustainable Ship Operator of the Year" award in July 2011.

Maersk plans to use the ships to service routes between Europe and Asia, projecting that Chinese exports will continue to grow. The Europe-Asia trade represents the company's largest market; it already has 100 ships serving this route. Maersk hopes to consolidate its share of the Europe-Asia trade with the addition of the Triple-E class ships.

Orders and history

In February 2011, Maersk announced orders for a new "Triple E" family of containerships with a capacity of 18,000 TEU, with an emphasis on lower fuel consumption.^[1] They will be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea; the initial order, for ten ships, was valued at US$1.9 billion; Maersk had options to buy a further twenty ships.^[2] (2 trillion Korean Won).^[3] In June 2011, Maersk announced that 10 more ships had been ordered for $1.9bn,^[4] but an option for a third group of ten ships would not be exercised.^[5] Payment of the ship is "tail-heavy": 40% while the ship is being built, and the remaining 60% paid on delivery.^[6] Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2014.^[7]

Many previous containerships had been built at Maersk's Odense Steel Shipyard in Denmark, but Asian builders are now considered more competitively priced.^[8] Maersk had approached several different builders in Asia, having ruled out European shipbuilders (for cost reasons) and Chinese (for technology reasons).^[9][10]

Investment in more-efficient ships helped Maersk win the "Sustainable Ship Operator of the Year" award from Petromedia Group's on-line publication sustainableshipping.com in July 2011.^[11]

Design

Edith Maersk, from the preceding E-class of ships: The layout is conventional, with superstructure slightly to the rear

Propulsion

Unlike conventional single-engined container ships, the new class of ships is expected to be a twin-skeg design: It has twin diesel engines, each driving a separate propeller. Usually a single engine is more efficient,^[9] but using two propellers allows a better distribution of pressure, increasing propeller efficiency more than the disadvantage of using two engines.^[12]

The engines have waste heat recovery (WHR) systems; these are also used in 20 other Mærsk vessels including the eight E-class ships. The name "Triple E class" highlights three design principles: "Economy of scale, energy efficient and environmentally improved".^[13]

The twin-skeg principle also means that the engines can be lower and further back, allowing more room for cargo. Maersk requires ultra-long stroke two-stroke engines resulting in lower RPM, but this requires more propeller area for the same effect, and such a combination is only possible with two propellers due to the low water depth of the desired route.^[10][14][10]

A slower speed of 19 knots is targeted as the optimum, compared to the 23–26 knots of similar ships.^[10] The top speed would be 25 knots, but steaming at 20 knots would reduce fuel consumption by 37%, and at 17.5 knots fuel consumption would be halved.^[15] These slower speeds would add 2–6 days to journey times.^[16][17]

The various environmental features are expected to cost $30 million per ship, of which the WHR is to cost $10 million.^[9] Carbon dioxide emissions, per container, are expected to be 50% lower than emissions by typical ships on the Asia-Europe route^[18] and 20% lower than Emma Maersk.^[19] These will be the most efficient containerships in the world, per TEU.

Dimensions and layout

The ships are expected to be the world's largest when they enter service.^[20] A few larger ships have been built, but they were all oil supertankers and have now been scrapped;^[20] Seawise Giant was the largest of all.

The hull is more 'boxy' with a U-shape compared to the V-shape of Maersk's E-class; this allows more containers to be stored at lower levels, so while the Triple-E is only 3m wider and 4m longer, it can carry 2,500 more containers, an increase of 16%. The Triple-E can carry 23 rows of containers compared to 22 of the E-class, which makes better use of the reach of current terminal cranes.^[9]

The deckhouse is relatively further forward, whilst the engines are to the rear; similar to CMA CGM's SOLAS regulation V/22.

When the class was ordered, no port in the Americas could handle ships of their size. Suitable ports include Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Yantian and Hong Kong in Asia, and Rotterdam, Bremerhaven and Felixstowe in Europe. The ships will be too big for the New Panamax sized locks on the Panama Canal,^[22] and their main route is expected to be Asia-Europe (through the Suez Canal).^[23] The draft of the Triple-E is 14.5m, less than the SuezMax requirement of 52.6 ft (16.0 m) at 59m beam.^[24] Handling equipment at ports was the main constraint on size, rather than the dimensions of canals or straits.^[9]

Specifications

• Capacity: 18000 TEU^[25][13]
• Length: 400 metres
• Draft: 14.5 metres
• Beam: 59 metres
• Height: 73 metres
• Optimum speed: 19 knots
• Top speed: 25 knots^[15]
• Deadweight: 165,000 tonnes
• Engines: Twin MAN ultra-long stroke diesel engines, rated at 43,000 hp each, with fuel consumption of 168 g/kWh^[14]
• Propellers: Twin propellers, with 4 blades, 9.8 m in diameter^[14]

Market

Maersk plans to use the ships on routes between Europe and Asia.^[20] In 2008, there was a reduction in demand for container transport, caused by recessions in many countries. This left shipping lines in financial difficulties in 2009, with surplus capacity. Some ships were laid up or scrapped. However, there was a sudden resurgence of demand for container transport in 2010; Maersk posted its largest ever profit,^[26] and orders for new ships increased, leading to fresh concerns about future overcapacity.^[27] Slow steaming is one way of managing capacity and reducing fuel consumption; the Triple E Class is designed for slower speeds than Maersk's preceding class of large container ships. Nonetheless, this order for many big ships is a gamble, on Maersk's part, that Chinese exports will continue to grow.^[20] Maersk already uses approximately 100 ships on the Asia-Europe route, which is their most important.^[16]

Maersk's has long dominated the container shipping market, but market share has stagnated since acquiring P&O Nedlloyd in 2005. The order of twenty very large ships will help consolidate Maersk's share of the market.^[28] The construction of newer, larger ships has influenced development plans at ports such as London Gateway.^[29]

See also

• List of world's longest ships
• Malaccamax

References

1. ^ "NORDIC ROUNDUP: Maersk Orders 10 Container Carriers". Wall Street Journal (subscription required). 22 February 2011. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110218-706510.html. Retrieved 22 February 2011. 
2. ^ Vidal, John (21 February 2011). "Maersk claims new 'mega containers' could cut shipping emissions". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/21/maersk-containers-shipping-emissions. Retrieved 1 March 2011. 
3. ^ "Daewoo says to win 2 trln won order from Maersk". Reuters. 20 February 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/20/daewoo-order-idUSSEU00325520110220. Retrieved 22 February 2011. 
4. ^ "Maersk Line contracts additional 10 Triple-E vessels". Baird Maritime. 27 June 2011. http://www.bairdmaritime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10508:maersk-line-contracts-additional-10-triple-e-vessels&catid=66:container&Itemid=57. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
5. ^ "Maersk expects to limit Triple-E fleet to 20 vessels". Lloyd's List. 27 june 2011. http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/sector/containers/article373865.ece. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
6. ^ Pay on delivery Dagbladet Børsen, 22 February 2011. Accessed: 14 August 2011.
7. ^ "Maersk Orders Up to 30 of Biggest Container Ships on Trade". Business Week. 22 February 2011. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-02-21/maersk-orders-up-to-30-of-biggest-container-ships-on-trade.html. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
8. ^ "Daewoo wins $2bn Maersk order, talks on $2bn". Daily Times. 19 February 2011. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C02%5C19%5Cstory_19-2-2011_pg5_25. Retrieved 14 AUgust 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b c d e} Maersk orders 10 green mega-boxships The Motorship, 21 February 2011. Accessed: 22 February 2011.
10. ^ ^{a b c d} New Mærsk Triple-E ships worlds largest and most efficient; waste heat recovery and ultra long stroke engines contribute to up to 50% reduction in CO2/container moved Dispatch Control, 21 February 2011. Accessed: 22 February 2011.
11. ^ "Maersk Line gewinnt Preis als Nachhaltiger Schiffsbetreiber des Jahres". Fruchtportal.de. 31 July 2011. http://www.fruchtportal.de/aktuelles/lesen/35225/Maersk-Line-gewinnt-Preis-als-Nachhaltiger-Schiffsbetreiber-des-Jahres. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
12. ^ Maersk megaship with two propellers (in Danish) Ing.dk, 21 February 2011. Accessed: 22 February 2011.
13. ^ ^{a b} "Maersk orders largest, most efficient ships ever". Maersk. 21 February 2011. http://www.maerskline.com/link/?page=news&path=/news/news20110221. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
14. ^ ^{a b c} "Maersk orders ten 18,000 TEU Triple-E containerships". Marinelog. 21 February 2011. http://marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=532:2011feb0002100&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=107. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
15. ^ ^{a b} "Maersk Orders 10 Triple-E Class 18,000TEU Container Ships". Maritime Propulsion. 22 February 2011. http://articles.maritimepropulsion.com/article/Maersk-Orders-10-Triple-E-Class-18000TEU-Container-Ships-1264.aspx. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
16. ^ ^{a b} "Maersk mega ships too big for US". Copenhagen Post. 22 February 2011. http://www.cphpost.dk/business/business/51010-maersk-mega-ships-too-big-for-us.html. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
17. ^ "Sea routes between ports". http://www.searates.com/reference/portdistance/?fcity1=33126&fcity2=6438&speed=19&ccode=8363. Retrieved 15 August 2011. "Sea routes between ports". http://www.searates.com/reference/portdistance/?fcity1=33126&fcity2=6438&speed=25&ccode=6222. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
18. ^ "Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability News: Huge Maersk Triple-E Ships Get "E" for Effort, and Expense". Environmental News Network. 23 February 2011. http://www.enn.com/business/article/42386. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
19. ^ "Mærsk revolutionerer containermarkedet". Dagbladet Børsen. 21 February 2011. http://borsen.dk/nyheder/investor/artikel/1/201835/maersk_revolutionerer_containermarkedet.html. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
20. ^ ^{a b c d} "The Danish Armada". The Economist. February 21, 2011. http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/02/shipping. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
21. ^ "Ship of the Day: CMA CGM CHRISTOPHE COLOMB – Characteristics and pictures of a new ship entering Rotterdam every day". 15 July 2010. http://shipoftheday.blogspot.com/2010/07/cma-cgm-christophe-colomb.html. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
22. ^ Bigger, cleaner, slower – the new giants of the seas. The Times, February 22, 2011
23. ^ "Maersk ordert 18.000-TEU-Frachter". Thb.info. 22 February 2011. http://www.thb.info/news/single-view/id/maersk-ordert-18000-teu-frachter.html. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
24. ^ "Suez Canal Authority – Rules of Navigation". Suez Canal Authority. http://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/NR.aspx?node=81. Retrieved 2011-08-14. 
25. ^ "Largest container ship will be 16% larger and 20% less CO2and 35% more fuel efficient". Next Big Future. 21 February 2011. http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/02/largest-container-ship-will-be-16.html. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
26. ^ "Maersk posts best profit ever". Finance News. 2011. http://www.financenews.co.uk/investments/maersk-posts-best-profit-ever/. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
27. ^ "Container Shipping Overview", China Shipping Report, Business Monitor International, 2011Q1, pp. 7–26, http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=55432892&site=eds-live&scope=site 
28. ^ "Alphaliner Weekly Newsletter, Volume 2011, Issue 8". Alphaliner Weekly Newsletter. http://www.alphaliner.com/liner2/research_files/newsletters/2011/no08/Alphaliner%20Newsletter%20no%2008%20-%202011.pdf. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
29. ^ "UK: DP World to Spend USD 2.5 Billion on London Deepwater Gateway". Dredging Today. 27 July 2011. http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2011/07/27/uk-dp-world-to-spend-usd-2-5-billion-on-london-deepwater-gateway/. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 

External links

• Making Waves: Maersk's website dedicated to the new family of ships
• Images of the Triple-E class