Maersk Line, a leading shipping company, has signed a contract with Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering to build 10 of the world's largest and most efficient vessels.

The contract includes an option for an additional 20 vessels.

Scheduled for delivery between 2013 and 2015, they will entirely change the shipping industry's understanding of size and efficiency, a statement said.

Called the 'Triple-E' class for the three main purposes behind their creation - economy of scale, energy efficient and environmentally improved - these new container vessels 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.

At 400 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 than today's largest container vessel, 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 lane. 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 Asia-Europe service.

"One of the biggest challenges we face in the world today is how to meet the growing needs of a growing population and the impact that is going to have on our planet," said Maersk Line chief executive officer 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 CO2 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."

The Triple-E vessel is a significant step towards addressing the environmental challenges associated with transporting goods around the world. Each vessel will cost $190 million. – TradeArabia News Service