13,000 cases of container ships unveiled this week
The 13,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) container ship, a new generation of massive "animal-type" vessels, is set to make its official debut this weekend at the Linden Dockyard of the Odense Shipyard under the AP Moller-Maersk Line Group in Denmark. This vessel marks a significant milestone for the company, showcasing its continued leadership in global container shipping. Over the past five decades, from the first modified container ship to the current 10,000 TEU class, the industry has evolved dramatically, and Maersk's latest project signals a new era of efficiency and scale.
On Saturday, September 12th, the Danish shipping giant will hold a grand naming ceremony for the ship, designated as L-203, which will be integrated into the Eurasian Line AE1 service. The ship is scheduled to officially enter service in mid-September after undergoing a multi-day sea trial. It was recently returned to Sweden for further testing before heading back to the shipyard.
This new vessel has already attracted interest from several major shipping companies, including COSCO, China Shipping, Star Shipping, and Mediterranean Shipping. All of these ships are being built at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea, with the fastest one expected to launch next year. As such, being the first to own a million-box ship is a strong indicator of a company’s market power and influence.
According to historical data, the first 10,000 TEU container ship emerged 50 years after the first containerized vessel in 1956, marking a long but transformative journey for the container shipping industry. Maersk has consistently been at the forefront, leveraging its own shipyard, financial strength, and operational expertise. Industry experts believe that the company’s container ships represent the future of the sector, even though they often keep their actual cargo capacities confidential.
Rumors about the 10,000 TEU vessel have been circulating, with some claims suggesting it can carry up to 15,000 TEU. If true, this would make it larger than any currently under construction at Asian shipyards. The ship is reported to be 399 meters long and 53 meters wide, with eight decks stacked above the main deck and 22 rows of containers below. Only a few major ports worldwide, such as Singapore, Kobe, Nagoya, Yokohama, Yantian, and Hong Kong, can accommodate such a massive vessel.
Maersk’s AE1 route is carefully planned, connecting Europe and Asia. Its maiden voyage will take it through Fort Gordon, Aarhus, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Algeria, via the Suez Canal, and then to key Asian ports, ending in Hong Kong on October 22nd. The line includes two other large vessels, Maersk Gerd and Axel, each over 336 meters long and capable of carrying more than their nominal capacity.
According to BRS-Alphaliner’s AXS Lines report, global container capacity surpassed 9 million TEU earlier this month, doubling in just six years. By 2010, the world’s container capacity is expected to reach 13.5 million TEU. Booking capacity now accounts for over 50% of the active fleet, a figure that has risen rapidly in recent months. In June, it was only 49.2%, but by August, it had crossed the 50% threshold, setting a new record.
Maersk operates the largest container fleet globally, with 1.7 million TEU, representing 17.9% of the total market. Mediterranean Shipping follows closely with nearly 1 million TEU. The company also has 120 pre-fabricated container ships, with a combined capacity of around 640,000 TEU, reinforcing its dominant position in the industry.
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