AP MOLLER has placed an order for another four 6000 TEU containerships for Maersk Line, which will be built at AP Moller's Odense Steel Shipyard. The new ships will each have 700 reefer slots.
The vessels are to be delivered later this year and early in 2000 and will be employed in one of the east-west corridors. Maersk has indicated that they will not be used on American routes at this stage because there are no American container ports able to take such large container ships. However Maersk anticipates American terminals will be upgraded to accept deeper draught and wider vessels in the not too distant future.
Observers in Europe say this demonstrates Maersk Line's confidence in improvements for container traffic, although Maersk managing director Knud Stubkjaer denies this.
According to Stubkjaer the new large ships are a necessary move if Maersk is to remain at the forefront of container shipping.
By Terry Hutson
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