Denmark's Maersk Line has put out for tender a US$550 million order for 10 new feeder vessels that are to be designed to run on low sulphur fuel needed in emission control areas (ECA) covering the Baltic, North Sea and English Channel.

The ships are understood to be ice strengthened and in 3,400-TEU range to be delivered by 2017, reported Vancouver's Ship&Bunker.

Shipyards in Japan, South Korea and China are expected to bid, but market commentators noted the South Korean yards were experienced in both ice-class vessels and low sulphur designs.

"Maersk is known in the industry to have set high-specifications, which not many shipyards are able to meet," an industry source told Tradewinds.

"Chinese shipbuilders do not have much experience in building ice-class vessels, while Japanese shipyards have not been building them for a long time. This only leaves the Koreans," he said.