Maersk Line has just ordered the world’s largest vessel, the Triple-E.

In fact, we have ordered ten — each capable of carrying 18,000 containers — and at a record 400 metres long and 59 metres wide, the Triple-E class will dwarf every other vessel currently on the water and will put Maersk Line at the helm of the world’s largest ships when they start entering service in 2013.

But the Triple-E will not only be the largest, it will also be the most environmentally efficient ship ever to hit the world’s oceans. I believe, it will set a new agenda for economies of scale, energy efficiency and unprecedented environmental performance.

CO2 emissions per container moved will be reduced by an astonishing 50% compared to the industry average on the Asia–Europe trade.

This huge improvement in environmental performance means that Maersk Line’s customers will continue to have access to the most sustainable mode of transportation in the world by far — and that consumers around the world can purchase goods safe in the knowledge that they’re leaving the smallest environmental footprint possible with today’s technology.

At Maersk Line we know that the carbon footprint of transported goods is of ever-increasing concern. With the Triple-E class vessels, we are addressing the expected growth in volume for the Asia–Europe trade over the next five years by offering our customers more capacity but with the lowest possible environmental impact.

The Triple-E class vessels will not only set Maersk Line apart as the leader of container shipping, but will also set the course for a more efficient and sustainable future for the industry.