Danish shipping giant Maersk Line has signed a US$1.8 billion contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) to build eleven 19,630-TEU Triple-E ships with an option for six more.

"These vessels will help us stay competitive in the Asia ?Europe trade and will be key in our strategy to grow with the market," said Maersk Line chief operations officer Soren Toft.

"It is the second order this year and we expect to order more, which we can add to our fleet from 2017," he said, noting the company had announced orders for seven 3,600-TEU feeders.

The new vessels, 400 metres long, 58.6 metres abeam and drawing 16.5 metres, will be the largest in Maersk Line's fleet and bound for the Asia-Europe service.

The contract was signed by Sung-Leep Jung, president and CEO of DSME, and Soren Skou, CEO of Maersk Line, at a ceremony in Copenhagen.