Expect the unexpected
Emma Maersk: one of the largest container ships in the world with a capacity of over 14,000 teu. Now Maersk is looking at 16,000 teu
Rumour has it Maersk is in the market for a new generation of containership – a 16,000 teu vessel design – that will see a 2,000 teu increase in top of the range container vessel capacity.
Maersk has not confirmed this is the case, traditionally it is a tight lipped organisation on such matters, but if such a project is in the pipeline then this represents a major initiative aimed at maintaining its leading position in the container liner sector both in terms of market share and achieving low capital and fuel slot costs.
The introduction of the super-sized containership, Emma Maersk - a 14,000+ teu design in 2006 and seven sister vessels through to 2008 - formerly fulfilled this goal and only recently have other leading shipowners begun to catch up.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) took delivery of its first 14,000 teu vessel design this year and CMA-CGM is also now receiving its 13,800 teu newbuildings.
A move, now, by Maersk to order a new 16,000 teu container vessel design would effectively again allow the company to steal a march on its competitors and of course to capitalise on the enlargement of the Panama Canal locks.
When will we definitely know that this new class is coming? Well if we think back to the introduction of the Emma Maersk then we know that we won’t be getting any definitive answer from Maersk Line.
Considerable smoke and mirrors surrounded the introduction of the Emma Maersk and particularly with regard to her precise capacity rating. Add on to the competitive scenario, however, the fact that it is now over two years since Maersk ordered top-of-the-range, high capacity container vessels and that competitive pricing is now available from the shipyard sector then the logic does seem to stack up that Maersk may, at the very least, be assessing the viability of such a move in order to consolidate and expand its Number 1 position in the container liner sector.
In some ways such a move seems hard to comprehend with the container liner trades perceived by many still to be in recovery. Where Maersk is concerned, however, it is perhaps a wise move to expect the unexpected.
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