MAERSK Line, the world's largest carrier, has announced it will deploy a 4,500-TEU newbuilding on the west Africa route at a naming ceremony at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.

The Maersk Conakry, named after the capital of Guinea, is the first of a series of 22 West Africa MAX ("WAFMAX") vessels ordered from Hyundai, which will be the largest containerships running the West Africa trade lane.

Scheduled to be delivered this year and in 2012, Maersk said these vessels featured 250 metres long with a draft of 13.5 metres, the maximum depth for west African ports. Some will be geared to allow calls at ports without quay cranes.

They are also "the most fuel-efficient, using 30 per cent less fuel per container moved than the industry average on the Asia-Africa trade."

Maersk said since African market is served "entirely by feeder vessels from hubs like Algeciras", this new series of WAFMAX vessels is particularly designed "to provide Maersk Line's Asian customers with direct services to West African ports," as well as to strengthen Maersk Line's leading position in the African market.