Changing the world of international shipping
The Triple-E’s enormous capacity can move the greatest number of containers possible in the most efficient way and with the smallest CO2 footprint. And combined with an energy saving propulsion system, its size is a major factor in its industry best energy efficiency and performance.
The Triple-E is a giant. At 400 meters in length and with a capacity for 18,000 twenty-foot containers (TEU), it is the new benchmark for size in the shipping industry. Through feats of innovative engineering, the Triple-E’s vastly expanded inside cavity gives it a capacity 16 percent greater than Emma Maersk (equivalent to 2,500 containers), despite relatively little change in the length and width.
But the Triple-E isn’t just the largest vessel of any kind in operation today: it is actually the longest and widest container vessel possible based on port restrictions. And the reality is that the visible dimensions of the ship–only four meters longer and three meters wider than Emma Mærsk, the world’s largest vessel in operation– do not fully convey its size.
Container capacity and energy efficiency are the two main drivers behind the design of the Triple-E. To improve upon the design of Emma Mærsk, the current benchmark in both of those categories for all vessel types, a different set of performance parameters was established.
The shape of change
Container capacity is the top priority. Because of that, a wider hull is essential. The V-shaped hull of Emma Mærsk is sleek and limits resistance in the water, but also limits space for containers towards the bottom of the ‘V’. Therefore, the Triple-E boasts a more U-like hull form. An additional row of containers was added to the Triple-E as well, giving it 23 rows across its width, compared to Emma’s 22. The more spacious hull and extra row hereby provide additional capacity for 1,500 containers.
Additional container space has been created in the vessel by moving the navigation bridge and accommodation 5 bays forward and the engine room and chimney 6 bays back in what is called a ‘two-island’ design. With the more forward navigation bridge, containers can be stacked higher in front of the bridge (approximately 250 more) without losing visibility. And approximately 750 more containers fill the space behind the bridge above deck and below deck using the space created by the engine room’s position further to the back of the vessel.
Europe-Asia Route
The Triple-E would not exist without the remarkable economic growth of China. And as the world’s second largest economy continues its booming growth, the Triple-E will position Maersk Line to meet that growth in the most efficient way possible.For Maersk Line, this gradual change is reflected in the growing number of services covering Asian ports as well as the significant share of those services that connect China in particular to the rest of the world.
Currently, Maersk Line has the largest market share of any container shipping line in this trade, moving 18 percent of the container cargo leaving Asia for Europe and 15 percent of the container cargo travelling from Europe to Asia.
The Triple-E vessels will touch five Chinese ports (Shanghai, Ning-bo, Xiamen, Yantian and Hong Kong) adding significant capacity to the vessel strings serving Asia - Europe and furthering Maersk Line’s dominance in the trade.
The vessel’s dramatically improved efficiency will also help limit the environmental impact of the region’s continued economic growth.
