MAERSK BROWNSVILLE

[Timber]

MAERSK BROWNSVILLE was built at the Volkswerft yard at STRALSUND near ROSTOCK, and enererd service on 21st September 2007.

She is a Panamax ship, with a length overall of 294m and beam of 32.5m and 48853 Gross Tonnes. These are the largest dimensions that can fit in the locks in the Panama Canal.



She is the 6th vessel in her class of 7.
Her sisters are called
MAERSK BOSTON
MAERSK BALTIMORE
MAERSK BENTONVILLE
MAERSK BROOKLYN
MAERSK BUFFALO
and the last vessel will be named MAERSK BEAUMONT.

All are registered in London and are part of the Maersk UK fleet.

The class has been designed and built for a high speed service from the Far East across the Pacific to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

During trials, the MAERSK BENTONVILLE achieved a top speed of 32 knots.

To achieve this high speed the hull form is very fine and the vessel is fitted with a very large engine which is the same size as that fitted in the G class Maersk container ships which are 367m long and 42.5m beam and 97933GT (double the cargo capacity). The Gudrun Maersk main engine produces 93350 BHP.

To fit a large engine into a fine hull form, the only space where it would fit is in the mid body in the centre of the vessel.

The following photograph of MAERSK BROWNSVILLE is owned by "Shiffbau" and was taken on 10th August 2007 at the Volkswerft shipyard prior to the naming ceremony.



The underwater hull form can be clearly seen and it is easy to understand why the engine is sited midships.

To give the maximum cargo space available, the accommodation is mounted above the engine room.

She called into Felixstowe on 19th October whist on passage from Europe to the Far East via the Suez Canal to start the trans Pacific service (TP8 in the Maersk Line schedule) from Dalian in China on 21st November.

The service includes visits at Dalian, Xingang, Qingdao, Busan, Kwangyang, Nagoya, Yokohama, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and then back to Dalian.

[Timber]

The last in the series MAERSK BEAUMONT is captured below departing from Felixstowe on 7th February 2008