Maersk names first Triple-E containership

JUNE 14, 2013 — Maersk Line’s newest containership, the first of the Triple-E series, was named this morning in a ceremony at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard in Okpo, South Korea. It bears the name of the late Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, who passed away in April 2012 at the age of 98.

Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla uses traditional bottle of champagne to give first Triple-E her father’s name

Maersk Line CEO, Søren Skou, began the ceremony by welcoming all the special guests and recounting the important tradition of naming ceremonies in Maersk ever since the first event in 1906 welcomed Peter Mærsk as the second vessel in the fleet.

He then handed the podium and the honor of naming the first Triple-E vessel to Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the youngest daughter of Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller.

“I name you Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller,” she said. “As you sail the waters of the world, may your journeys be smooth and your tasks successful. May you bring happiness to your crew, may you be a safe haven for all who board you and may you bring pride and prosperity to all. I wish you Godspeed!”

The 18,000 TEU Triple-E is the largest ship in the world, and it sets new standards in the container industry, not just for size, but also of energy efficiency and environmental performance. With unique design features for slower speeds and maximum efficiency, this vessel will emit 50 percent less CO2 per container moved than the current average on the Asia-Europe route. (See feature in Marine Log’s March 2011 digital edition).

Maersk Line has ordered a total of 20 of these vessels, which will be phased in gradually over the next couple of years on the existing route between Asia and Northern Europe (AE10).

Guests at the ceremony included Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller’s other two daughters Leise Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller and Kirsten Mærsk Mc-Kinney Olufsen, the Danish ambassador to Korea, Peter Lysholt Hansen, members of the vessel crew, as well representatives from Maersk Line, Maersk Maritime Technology and the DSME shipyard.