AP Moller-Maersk has named the first of a series of 22 West Africa MAX (WAFMAX) container vessels currently being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea.
The new Maersk Conakry will be the largest container ship able to call West Africa.
Once a market served entirely by small feeder vessels operating from hubs like Algeciras in Spain, the 4,500 TEU WAFMAX vessels are purpose-built to provide Maersk Line's Asian customers with direct services to West African ports.
The ships are 250 metres long with a draught of 13.5 metres, the maximum size allowable in West African ports. Some of the vessels will be equipped with onboard cranes to enable calls at ports without standing cranes.
The WAFMAX vessels are also the most fuel-efficient, using 30% less fuel per container moved than the industry average on the Asia-Africa trade.
The vessels are to be delivered this year and in 2012.
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