CSCL trumps Maersk Triple-E with larger ship order

China Shipping Container Lines Co (CSCL) has taken large scale ships to the next level, following the order of five ships even bigger than the enormous Maersk Triple-E, the world’s biggest containership which is due to start its maiden voyage on June 28th.

Reports this week claim the CSCL have chosen Hyundai Heavy Industries Co to construct five vessels that can each carry 18,400 20-foot boxes in the (approx) $683 million contract.

Whilst it seemed that the maximum container capacity was set by Maersk Line when it imposed its Triple-E series, which can carry 18,000 TEU containers, the Chinese shipping company have raised the bar with an order for five gargantuan container carriers which can hold a record breaking 400 TEU containers more than the Triple-E.

The size of the CSCL ships will reportedly be similar to the Maersk Triple-E at 400m long, 58.6m wide and with a 30.5 ft draft. Hyundai said that the ships will have electronically controlled main engines and two EcoBallast water treatment systems for sea water.

The main engine will be able to maximize fuel efficiency and reduce noise, vibration and carbon emissions, automatically controlling fuel consumption to meet the speed demanded for navigation and according to sea conditions.

The EcoBallast system can treat 3,000 cubic meters of sea water per hour through filtration and sterilization of bacteria and plankton, larger than 50 microns, with ultraviolet rays.

CSCL, based in Hong Kong, is the second largest shipper in China, according to cargo volume activity, behind Cosco, and the tenth in the world in container shipping.