The Majestic Maersk, Maersk Line’s second Triple E vessel, made its maiden call at China’s Ningbo port on Aug. 16.

The Majestic Maersk has a capacity of 18,000 TEUs and can carry 111 million pairs of sporting shoes in one go.

The Triple E vessels are the largest ships in the world. The Majestic Maersk is 400 meters long and 59 meters wide. Its deck is as big as three football fields. If all the containers they can carry were placed in a line, the line would stretch for 110 kilometers.

The Majestic Maersk’s maiden visit to Ningbo was intended to show Maersk’s commitment to Asia.

“Majestic Maersk will allow us to significantly reduce fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions by 50 percent per unit transported compared to the average in the industry servicing the Asia-Europe route,” said Dick Simon Danielsen, the captain of the mega-ship, at the ceremony.

Officials at the ribbon cutting included Cai Shenkang, vice president of Ningbo Port; Li Linghong, chairman of Ningbo port; and David Williams, managing director of Maersk Line East and Central China.

Ningbo port handled 285 million metric tons of cargo in the first seven months of 2013, up 9 percent year-over-year.

The Majestic Maersk can carry containers 19 levels high. Ningbo port features advanced technologies for cranes to meet the demand.

Maersk Line will receive and deploy five Triple E vessels in its AE10 service on the Asia-Europe route this year. The world’s largest carrier will receive 20 vessels — ordered in February 2011 amid market recovery forecasts — by the summer of 2015.

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