Maersk Line, the largest carrier of the world, has denied it has signed a contract for ten 18,000-TEU containerships with South Korea shipbuilder Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

It was reported by Lloyds List that the orders would amount to US$2 billion, and Korea Economic Daily also reported that Daewoo would sign a $4 billion order for 20 vessels with Maersk – reports echoed around the world including in the Hong Kong Shipping Gazette.

But Maersk spokesman Michael Storgaard said the company had not signed any deal, but at the same time, would not comment on whether it such a eventuality was being discussed with any shipyard, said ComPair Data, an American Shipper affiliate.

Still it is reported that Maersk and Daewoo are working together for designing new mega vessels that are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), helping the carrier to further reduce the overall CO2 emission and better implement the slow steaming strategy to cut fuel costs.

“The trend in economies of scale for containerships is apparently not over,” said founder of Hong Kong-based Transport Trackers Charles de Trenck in an email, cited ComPair Data.

via Maersk denies it ‘signed’ for ten 18,000-TEU ships Transportweekly . Com.