The 18,000-TEU Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, one of the world's largest containerships, made its maiden call at Singapore, where it discharged 3,500 TEU on its way back from Europe.

The ship is deployed on Maersk Line's AE-10 service connecting Asia to northern Europe and is to put into the Shenzhen's Yantian terminal.

"We estimate growth of two to three per cent on the Asia-Europe trade this year, led by a stronger rebound of volumes in the Mediterranean. The second half of the year is clearly looking better than the first, driven by positive momentum in the Eurozone," said Maersk's Asia Pacific CEO Thomas Knudsen.

Officials from Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, PSA International and Maersk Line joined the shipping line's key customers for a celebratory event and a tour of the vessel.

Said PSA regional CEO Puay Hin: "PSA Singapore Terminals is honoured to receive the world's first Triple-E vessel at our Pasir Panjang Terminal. We will continue to work closely with Maersk Line to achieve the efficiency and reliability of service."

The Triple-E class of container ships is custom-designed with features such as an efficient propulsion system, which uses two engines and two propellers and well as a waste heat recovery system that saves up to 10 per cent of the main engine power.

The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller measures 400 metres long, 59 metres wide and 73 metres high, and is the first of 20 such Triple E ships to be delivered to Maersk Line. Five Triple-E vessels will be delivered this year and the remaining ships will be delivered in 2014 and 2015. The vessels are being built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. (Source: Seanews)