Maersk in $1 billion mega-ship drive

In a bid to maintain its market position, Danish ship-operator Maersk Line is in talks with South Korean shipyards regarding an order of six 19,000 TEU-boxship vessels.

PTI previously reported an announcement made by Maersk CEO Soren Skou that his company would be placing several orders for 18,000 TEU vessels in the next six months.

However, according to Trade Winds, the shipping line is expected to fork out US$1 billion on new ship orders.

Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries and DSME have been invited into the project in order to submit their bids.

The number of orders that have been confirmed or understood to be optional has not been disclosed but the container liner is expected to be seeking delivery of its new vessels in 2017.

2M alliance-partner Mediterranean Shipping Co also has around six vessels mega-vessels on order from Chinese finance houses.

Recently, the CSCL Globe became the biggest containership in the world, and Maersk may be in line to break that record with the prospective new-builds.   

Maersk in $1 billion mega-ship drive (Source: Reuters)